Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 42% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey)
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WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 161 prices entered by 44 different people.
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Food | + 68% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 68% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 18 лв (369TL) | 218TL | + 69% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (330TL) | 215TL | + 54% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (185TL) | 74TL | + 149% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.37 лв (71TL) | 32TL | + 121% | |
12 eggs, large | 8 лв (158TL) | 53TL | + 198% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.27 лв (90TL) | 33TL | + 168% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (216TL) | 143TL | + 50% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.63 лв (55TL) | 25TL | + 117% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.16 лв (45TL) | 20TL | + 128% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.05 лв (43TL) | 46TL | - 5% | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (351TL) | 342TL | + 3% | |
2 liters of coca-cola | 2.75 лв (58TL) | 49TL | + 19% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.04 лв (22TL) | 19TL | + 15% | |
Housing | + 60% | |||
Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 60% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,621 лв (34,082TL) | 27,079TL | + 26% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,113 лв (23,401TL) | 16,331TL | + 43% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 279 лв (5,861TL) | 1,508TL | + 289% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,050 лв (22,080TL) | 17,829TL | + 24% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 739 лв (15,526TL) | 10,456TL | + 48% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 160 лв (3,370TL) | 918TL | + 267% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (356TL) | 139TL | + 155% | |
40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (14,421TL) | 3,655TL | + 295% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (4,574TL) | 3,958TL | + 16% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29 лв (615TL) | 137TL | + 350% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 22 лв (454TL) | 197TL | + 130% | |
Clothes | + 2% | |||
Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 100 лв (2,108TL) | 2,618TL | - 19% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 72 лв (1,521TL) | 1,398TL | + 9% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 212 лв (4,449TL) | 3,603TL | + 23% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (2,389TL) | 1,790TL | + 33% | |
Transportation | + 19% | |||
Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 19% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 50,072 лв (1,052,635TL) | 1,074,620TL | - 2% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.64 лв (55TL) | 37TL | + 49% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 45 лв (940TL) | 723TL | + 30% | |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв (302TL) | - | - | |
Personal Care | + 180% | |||
Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 180% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (307TL) | 60TL | + 412% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (514TL) | 92TL | + 460% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 74 лв (1,559TL) | 1,187TL | + 31% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (205TL) | 17TL | + 1127% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 7 лв (139TL) | 43TL | + 221% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (122TL) | 99TL | + 23% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (73TL) | 18TL | + 303% | |
Tube of toothpaste | 4.78 лв (100TL) | 34TL | + 192% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (506TL) | 54TL | + 830% | |
Entertainment | + 23% | |||
Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 23% more expensive than in Bursa (Turkey) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Bursa | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 54 лв (1,126TL) | 987TL | + 14% | |
2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв (556TL) | 397TL | + 40% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (1,133TL) | 834TL | + 36% | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (2,227TL) | 4,878TL | - 54% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (274TL) | 95TL | + 187% | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (108TL) | 44TL | + 147% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.27 лв (90TL) | 116TL | - 22% | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (25,693TL) | 2,042TL | + 1159% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (5.60TL) | 0.44TL | + 1177% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв (1,308TL) | 1,177TL | + 11% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 7 лв (153TL) | 54TL | + 183% | |
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TOTAL | + 42% |

These prices were last updated on March 25, 2025.
Exchange rate:
21.022
TRY
/
BGN
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For example, you would need at least 104,775TL (4,984 лв) in Sofia to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with 74,000TL in Bursa.
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Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
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