Cost of Living

Sofia, Bulgaria

Live cost-of-living data for Sofia — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
-17% rent since Jul 2026
$1,950/mo
Median Income
61/100
Safety
10%
Income Tax
humid continental
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
42/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$620/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$420/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,100/month
Food & Groceries
40/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$0.9/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.4/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$27/month
One-Way Ticket$1.05/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.95/km
Utilities
38/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$95/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$12/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$18/month
Healthcare
55/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$60/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
48/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$300/course
Entertainment
42/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$20/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
38/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
38/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$40/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7/meal
Childcare
45/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

115 Mbps
Internet Speed
$160
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Lozenets, Oborishte, Vitosha Boulevard

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sofia cheap to live in?

Sofia has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Sofia?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Sofia costs approximately $620/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $420/month.

Is Sofia good for digital nomads?

Sofia has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 115 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $160/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Sofia?

The median net monthly salary in Sofia is approximately $1,950 USD. The income tax rate is around 10%.

How does Sofia compare to New York for cost of living?

Sofia (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Sofia.

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