Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 33% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany)
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This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 164 prices entered by 45 different people.
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Currency:
| Food | - 24% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 24% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 18 лв (€9) | €16 | - 45% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (€8) | €9 | - 13% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (€4.50) | €6 | - 26% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.37 лв (€1.72) | €1.45 | + 19% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (€3.84) | €3.71 | + 4% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.27 лв (€2.18) | €2.34 | - 7% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (€5.23) | €5.55 | - 6% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.63 лв (€1.34) | - | - | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.16 лв (€1.10) | €1.47 | - 25% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.05 лв (€1.05) | €0.75 | + 39% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (€9) | €9 | - 2% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.75 лв (€1.40) | €1.80 | - 22% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.04 лв (€0.53) | €1.33 | - 60% | |
| Housing | - 42% | |||
| Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 42% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,621 лв (€827) | €1,563 | - 47% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,113 лв (€568) | €1,025 | - 45% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 279 лв (€142) | €225 | - 37% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,050 лв (€535) | €833 | - 36% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 739 лв (€377) | €656 | - 43% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 160 лв (€82) | €121 | - 32% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (€9) | €28 | - 69% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (€350) | €426 | - 18% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (€111) | €106 | + 5% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29 лв (€15) | €6 | + 141% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 22 лв (€11) | €15 | - 28% | |
| Clothes | - 23% | |||
| Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 23% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 100 лв (€51) | €96 | - 47% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 72 лв (€37) | €38 | - 2% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 212 лв (€108) | €88 | + 22% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (€58) | €110 | - 47% | |
| Transportation | - 41% | |||
| Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 41% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 50,072 лв (€25,530) | €20,272 | + 26% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.64 лв (€1.35) | €1.78 | - 25% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 45 лв (€23) | €55 | - 58% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв (€7) | €21 | - 65% | |
| Personal Care | - 25% | |||
| Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 25% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (€7) | - | - | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (€12) | - | - | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 74 лв (€38) | €115 | - 67% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (€4.98) | - | - | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 7 лв (€3.38) | €2.15 | + 57% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (€2.95) | €3.71 | - 20% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (€1.78) | €1.71 | + 4% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 4.78 лв (€2.43) | €2.11 | + 15% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (€12) | €16 | - 25% | |
| Entertainment | - 20% | |||
| Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 20% cheaper than in Karlsruhe (Germany) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Karlsruhe | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 54 лв (€27) | €38 | - 28% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв (€13) | €21 | - 37% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (€27) | €84 | - 67% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (€54) | €79 | - 31% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (€7) | €9 | - 29% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (€2.63) | €3.89 | - 33% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.26 лв (€2.17) | €3.23 | - 33% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (€623) | €440 | + 42% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (€0.14) | €0.10 | + 37% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв (€32) | €50 | - 37% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (€3.95) | €7 | - 42% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 33% | ||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 164 prices entered by 45 different people.
These prices were last updated on April 29, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.510
EUR
/
BGN
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For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require €5,000 in Karlsruhe you would need to make just about €3,355 (6,581 лв) in Sofia.
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