Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,659 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,553 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,447 in Sofia, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 23% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Tbilisi sits 7% below the global median, while Sofia is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$17.14 BGN 28.51

-33.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$64.0 BGN 106

-40.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$12.13 BGN 20.18

-22.51%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$3.55 BGN 5.91

-4.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.70

$2.45 BGN 4.08

-57.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$1.94 BGN 3.22

-69.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$3.54 BGN 5.89

-23.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$4.60 BGN 7.65

-33.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$2.08 BGN 3.46

9.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-48.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$2.31 BGN 3.84

-29.87%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$4.55 BGN 7.57

-39.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$11.88 BGN 19.76

-21.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$8.94 BGN 14.88

-24.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$17.42 BGN 28.99

-25.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$2.17 BGN 3.61

-24.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$2.06 BGN 3.43

-11.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$1.90 BGN 3.17

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$4.12 BGN 6.85

-37.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$1.11 BGN 1.85

-24.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.95 BGN 1.58

-31.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$1.25 BGN 2.08

8.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.85 BGN 1.41

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$4.49 BGN 7.46

-24.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$7.42 BGN 12.34

3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.20 BGN 1.99

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$1.92 BGN 3.20

23.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.95 BGN 1.57

-58.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$30.10 BGN 50.1

-48.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-37.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.93 BGN 1.55

-20.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$15.98 BGN 26.58

-29.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-22.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$31.5K BGN 52.3K

-21.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$27.9K BGN 46.5K

-21.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 ₾231

$165 BGN 274

-46.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.18 ₾34.26

$21.72 BGN 36.13

-39.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$14.99 BGN 24.94

31.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$48.62 BGN 80.9

40.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$29.09 BGN 48.40

-38.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$10.52 BGN 17.50

-38.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$372 ₾967

$781 BGN 1,298

-52.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$13.2K BGN 22.0K

-18.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$91.6 BGN 152

14.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$43.54 BGN 72.4

-10.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$106 BGN 176

8.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$109 BGN 182

11.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$809 BGN 1,345

-15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$619 BGN 1,030

-26.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$1,586 BGN 2,638

-17.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$1,097 BGN 1,825

-18.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$4,590 BGN 7,635

-47.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$3,336 BGN 5,550

-57.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$1,796 BGN 2,988

-64.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

2.9

335.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sofia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $809 in Sofia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 181% higher in Sofia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $64.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $293 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Tbilisi vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $1,659 in Sofia – roughly 30% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $2,489 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,659 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 94% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Sofia at $1,659. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,279 in Tbilisi to $1,659 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.