Capital city in Sofia City, Bulgaria
Cost of living in Sofia
How much a month costs in Sofia
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,690–2,480 (€1,500–2,200).
Prices in Sofia
Typical 2026 ranges in EUR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | EUR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | €500–850 | $563–956 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | €350–550 | $394–619 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | €12–22 | $14–25 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | €60–110 | $68–124 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | €5–9 | $5.6–10.1 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | €15–25 | $17–28 |
| Cappuccino | €2–3 | $2.3–3.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | €2–4 | $2.3–4.5 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | €1 | $1.1 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | €4–7 | $4.5–7.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | €10–20 | $11–23 |
| Gym membership (month) | €30–50 | $34–56 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | €10–20 | $11–23 |
Value for money: 49/100
A value score of 49/100 means Sofia gives more quality of life per dollar than 48% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 72/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 11 places we cover in Bulgaria.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Bulgaria
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Veliko Tarnovo | $1,130–1,690 | 73/100 |
| Plovdiv | $1,240–1,800 | 68/100 |
| Bansko | $1,350–2,030 | 58/100 |
| Varna | $1,460–2,140 | 56/100 |
| Burgas | $1,460–2,140 | 54/100 |
| Nessebar | $1,580–2,250 | 46/100 |
| Golden Sands | $1,580–2,250 | 53/100 |
| Sozopol | $1,580–2,250 | 49/100 |
| Sofia | $1,690–2,480 | 49/100 |
| Sunny Beach | $1,690–2,480 | 32/100 |
| Borovets | $1,690–2,480 | 39/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Sofia
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Sofia?
About $900–1,240 on a lean budget, $1,690–2,480 for a comfortable month and $3,380–5,060 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Sofia?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs €500–850 ($563–956) a month in the center and €350–550 ($394–619) outside it.
How much does food cost in Sofia?
A local meal is €5–9 ($5.6–10.1); a mid-range restaurant is €15–25 ($17–28) per person.
Is Bulgaria expensive?
Prices in Bulgaria are about 46% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Sofia
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Sofia Airport
- Sofia Metropolitan
- Sofia Urban Mobility Center
- Bolt Bulgaria
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.