Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 18% cheaper than in Dresden (Germany)
We need your help!
Expatistan is a collaborative effort. The data gets better with every new price that you enter.
Do you know the prices in Dresden or in Sofia? You can help!
Improve the prices for Dresden! Improve the prices for Sofia!
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 191 prices entered by 48 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
| Food | - 1% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 20 лв (€10) | €12 | - 13% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 17 лв (€9) | €8 | + 2% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (€4.75) | €4.26 | + 11% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.26 лв (€1.67) | €0.98 | + 71% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (€3.96) | €2.82 | + 40% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.41 лв (€2.26) | €2.60 | - 13% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (€4.97) | €5.83 | - 15% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.68 лв (€1.37) | €2.64 | - 48% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.22 лв (€1.13) | €1.69 | - 33% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.09 лв (€1.07) | €0.80 | + 34% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (€8) | €5.23 | + 62% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.97 лв (€1.52) | €1.51 | + 1% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.35 лв (€0.69) | €0.98 | - 30% | |
| Housing | - 22% | |||
| Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 22% cheaper than in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,637 лв (€837) | €1,154 | - 27% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,270 лв (€650) | €782 | - 17% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 273 лв (€140) | €173 | - 19% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,095 лв (€560) | €644 | - 13% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 793 лв (€406) | €420 | - 3% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 150 лв (€77) | €98 | - 21% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 19 лв (€10) | €25 | - 61% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (€351) | €525 | - 33% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (€111) | €105 | + 6% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 26 лв (€13) | €5.38 | + 148% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 23 лв (€12) | €12 | - 1% | |
| Clothes | + 1% | |||
| Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 123 лв (€63) | €71 | - 11% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 68 лв (€35) | €30 | + 14% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 213 лв (€109) | €82 | + 33% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (€58) | €92 | - 37% | |
| Transportation | - 40% | |||
| Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 40% cheaper than in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 49,014 лв (€25,074) | €22,531 | + 11% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.53 лв (€1.30) | €1.53 | - 15% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 48 лв (€24) | €60 | - 59% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 16 лв (€8) | €15 | - 45% | |
| Personal Care | + 15% | |||
| Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 15% more expensive than in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 18 лв (€9) | €7 | + 24% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 29 лв (€15) | €13 | + 11% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 75 лв (€38) | €46 | - 17% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (€5.00) | €3.50 | + 43% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 7 лв (€3.39) | €2.20 | + 54% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (€2.96) | €2.16 | + 37% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (€1.79) | €1.23 | + 45% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 4.91 лв (€2.51) | €1.43 | + 76% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (€12) | €17 | - 28% | |
| Entertainment | + 2% | |||
| Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Dresden (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dresden | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 54 лв (€27) | €27 | + 1% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 30 лв (€16) | €19 | - 20% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (€28) | €69 | - 60% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (€54) | €51 | + 5% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (€7) | €6 | + 6% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (€2.64) | €2.67 | - 1% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.26 лв (€2.18) | €2.93 | - 26% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (€625) | €535 | + 17% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (€0.14) | €0.09 | + 50% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв (€32) | €34 | - 8% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (€3.96) | €5.94 | - 33% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 18% | ||
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 191 prices entered by 48 different people.
These prices were last updated on June 18, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.512
EUR
/
BGN
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Limassol is 10% cheaper than in Jerusalem
- Cost of living in Delhi is 68% cheaper than in Tampa, Florida
- Cost of living in Washington D.C. is 42% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Buenos Aires is 12% more expensive than in Santiago, Chile
- Cost of living in Montevideo is 20% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Belgrade is 34% cheaper than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Singapore is 33% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Lima is 6% cheaper than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in São Paulo is about the same as in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is 24% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
Compare other countries
For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require €3,700 in Dresden you would need to make just about €3,033 (5,929 лв) in Sofia.
Do you live in Dresden? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Lyon (France)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Belgrade (Serbia)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Antwerp (Belgium)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Milan (Italy)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Prague (Czech Republic)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Naples (Italy)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Prices recently added
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Valencia, Spain costs €40 (25 minutes ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Goiânia costs R$ 35 (37 minutes ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Las Vegas, Nevada costs $13 (about 1 hour ago)
- Monthly rent - 900 sqft furnished accommodation in expensive area in Austin, Texas costs $2,643 (about 1 hour ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Ranchi costs ₨200 (about 4 hours ago)
- 1 kg of potatoes in Dubai costs Dirham 4.60 (about 4 hours ago)