The cost of living in Sofia, Bulgaria, depends on various factors, such as your lifestyle, preferences, and needs. However, based on some web sources, here are some general estimates and comparisons.
According to Numbeo, a website that collects user-contributed data on prices and living standards, the average cost of living in Sofia for a single person (without rent) is 691.8 USD per month, or 1,236.0 BGN. For a family of four, the average cost is 2,437.0 USD per month, or 4,354.3 BGN. These estimates include food, transportation, utilities, clothing, and entertainment expenses.
| # | Number of people | Cost of living / month | Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in BGN | in EUR | |||
| 1 | 1 (single person) | 1,236.0 | 638.31 | / |
| 2 | 4 (family) | 4,354.3 | 2,248.58 | / |
Sofia is considered to be a relatively affordable city compared to other European capitals. For example, according to Expatistan, another website that compares the cost of living across cities, Sofia is 55% cheaper than Paris, 49% cheaper than Berlin, and 40% cheaper than Madrid. However, Sofia is also more expensive than some other cities in Eastern Europe, such as Bucharest, Belgrade, and Kiev.
The biggest expense for most people living in Sofia is housing. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is 930.34 BGN, or 519.93 USD, according to Numbeo¹. For a three-bedroom apartment, the average rent is 1,624.77 BGN, or 907.71 USD. If you are looking to buy a property, the average price per square meter in the city center is 461.85 BGN, or 257.87 USD.
| # | Number of bedrooms | Rent / month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| in BGN | in EUR | ||
| 1 | One-bedroom apartment | 930.34 | 478.22 |
| 2 | Three-bedroom apartment | 1,624.77 | 834.89 |
Other expenses that you may need to consider are health care, education, and taxes. According to Nomad List, a website that ranks the best places to live and work remotely, the quality of health care in Sofia is moderate, and the average cost of a doctor’s visit is 25.00 USD. The quality of education is also moderate, and the average cost of a year of private primary school is 14,528.50 BGN, or 8,108.64 USD, according to Numbeo. The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Sofia is 2,213.15 BGN, or 1,235.74 USD, and the income tax rate is 10%, according to Livingcost, a website that provides cost of living data for various locations.
According to some web sources, the minimum cost of a stay in Sofia per day and per person depends on the type of accommodation, food, transport, and entertainment you choose. However, based on some average prices, you can expect to spend around **лв174.77 ($97.57)** per day for one person and **лв242.07 ($135.14)** for two when traveling³. This budget includes accommodation costs for 2 adults in a good 4-star hotel (**лв107.48 $60.00**), lunch in a local restaurant, street food and drinks for a day (**лв72.69 $40.58**) and some entertainment (**лв61.91 $34.56**) for two³.
(4-star hotel) / night |
/ day |
/ day |
Cost of a stay / day |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **лв174.77 ($97.57)** |
|||
| 2 | (**лв107.48 $60.00**) |
(**лв72.69 $40.58**) |
(**лв61.91 $34.56**) |
лв242.07 ($135.14)** |
If you are looking for cheaper options, you can also find some affordable Airbnb rooms for around **лв25.82 ($14.40)** per night³, or some 3-star hotels for around **лв69.17 ($38.58)** per night³. You can also save money on food by cooking your own meals or eating at local markets. The average cost of a meal in a cheap restaurant is **лв10.00 ($5.58)**, and the average cost of groceries for one day is **лв15.00 ($8.37)**⁴.
The cost of transportation in Sofia is also reasonable, as you can use the metro, buses, trams, or taxis to get around the city. The average cost of a one-way ticket for public transport is **лв1.60 ($0.89)**, and the average cost of a taxi ride is **лв0.79 ($0.44)** per kilometer⁴. You can also rent a bike for **лв10.00 ($5.58)** per day or a car for **лв50.00 ($27.90)** per day⁴.
Sofia offers a variety of entertainment options for different tastes and budgets. You can visit some of the historical and cultural attractions, such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Palace of Culture, or the Boyana Church, for free or for a small fee. You can also enjoy some of the natural beauty of the city, such as the Vitosha Mountain, the Borisova Gradina Park, or the Lake Pancharevo. The average cost of a ticket for a museum or a gallery is **лв10.00 ($5.58)**, and the average cost of a ticket for a cinema or a theater is **лв15.00 ($8.37)**⁴.
I hope this information helps you plan your trip to Sofia, Bulgaria. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. 😊
Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/29/2023
(1) Average cost of trip to Sofia (Bulgaria) – TripNumbers. https://tripnumbers.com/travel-budget/bulgaria/sofia/.
(2) Cost of Living in Sofia. Updated Prices Nov 2023. – Expatistan. https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/sofia.
(3) . https://bing.com/search?q=minimum+cost+of+a+stay+in+Sofia+per+day+and+per+person.
(4) Sofia Travel Cost – Average Price of a Vacation to Sofia: Food & Meal …. https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/bulgaria/sofia.
(5) undefined. https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/bulgaria.
(6) undefined. https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/prices-in-bulgaria/.
(7) undefined. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g294452-Sofia_Sofia_Region-Hotels.html.
Yes, you can also buy public transport tickets for 1 day or 1 week or other periods in Sofia. There is also something like a city pass for Sofia that offers various benefits and discounts.
According to the web sources, there are different types of tickets and passes that you can use to travel by public transport in Sofia, such as metro, bus, tram, and trolleybus. Some of the options are:
| What | Medium | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BG LEVS | EURO | Duration | Where? | Transport | ||
| Day Pass All Lines |
4 levs | €2.04 | 1 day | Sofia | Metro trams trolleybuses buses |
Sofia City Card Ultralight card |
| 24-Hour Pass | 9 levs | €4.59 | 24 hours from 1st val. |
Sofia | All | Sofia City Card Ultralight card |
| 72-Hour Pass | 20 levs | €10.20 | 72 hours from 1st val. |
Sofia | All | Sofia City Card Ultralight card |
| Monthly Pass | 50 levs | €25.51 | 1 month | Sofia | All | Sofia City Card |
| Yearly Pass | 365 levs | €186.21 | 1 year | Sofia | All | Sofia City Card |
| Sofia Pass | 30 levs | €15.31 | 24 hours from 1st val. |
Sofia | All, 16 museums FREE, galleries, resto %disc., shops, attractions, city walking tour FREE | |
To use these tickets and passes, you need to have a media for transportation documents, such as a Sofia City Card, an Ultralight card, or a contactless bank card. A Sofia City Card is a personalized or non-personalized card that can be loaded with various tickets and passes. It costs 3 levs (€1.50) and can be purchased at metro station cashier desks and Center of Urban Mobility desks². An Ultralight card is a non-personalized card that can be loaded with some tickets and passes. It costs 0.80 levs (€0.40) and can be purchased at metro station cashier desks and Center of Urban Mobility desks². A contactless bank card can be used to pay for the Ticket 30+ option, which allows transfers within 30 minutes for 1.60 levs (€0.80). You just need to validate your card at the blue devices in the barriers or buses/trams¹.
I hope this information helps you find the best option for your travel needs in Sofia. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. 😊
Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/29/2023
(1) Tickets Metro Sofia. https://www.metrosofia.com/en/tickets.
(2) Urban Mobility Centre – Fares. Tickets and Travel Passes. https://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/tarifa-i-prevozni-dokumenti/p/1.
(3) Sofiatraffic. https://webportal.sofiatraffic.bg/en.
(4) Център за градска мобилност. https://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/1082/karta-sofiia.
