Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 36% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia)
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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 367 prices entered by 54 different people.
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Food | + 70% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 70% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 18 лв (261 Kwacha) | 116 Kwacha | + 126% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (233 Kwacha) | 72 Kwacha | + 224% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (131 Kwacha) | 44 Kwacha | + 196% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.37 лв (50 Kwacha) | 28 Kwacha | + 82% | |
12 eggs, large | 8 лв (112 Kwacha) | 36 Kwacha | + 215% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 3.89 лв (58 Kwacha) | 33 Kwacha | + 76% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (152 Kwacha) | 262 Kwacha | - 42% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.63 лв (39 Kwacha) | 58 Kwacha | - 32% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.16 лв (32 Kwacha) | 23 Kwacha | + 38% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.05 лв (30 Kwacha) | 23 Kwacha | + 35% | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (248 Kwacha) | 289 Kwacha | - 14% | |
2 liters of coca-cola | 2.75 лв (41 Kwacha) | 28 Kwacha | + 47% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.04 лв (15 Kwacha) | 26 Kwacha | - 40% | |
Housing | + 1% | |||
Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,512 лв (22,460 Kwacha) | 15,433 Kwacha | + 46% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,027 лв (15,258 Kwacha) | 8,623 Kwacha | + 77% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 279 лв (4,141 Kwacha) | 539 Kwacha | + 669% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 896 лв (13,316 Kwacha) | 14,999 Kwacha | - 11% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 663 лв (9,854 Kwacha) | 5,897 Kwacha | + 67% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 160 лв (2,381 Kwacha) | 480 Kwacha | + 396% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (252 Kwacha) | 1,674 Kwacha | - 85% | |
40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (10,190 Kwacha) | 3,603 Kwacha | + 183% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (3,232 Kwacha) | 3,551 Kwacha | - 9% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29 лв (435 Kwacha) | 60 Kwacha | + 622% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 22 лв (321 Kwacha) | 67 Kwacha | + 381% | |
Clothes | + 48% | |||
Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 48% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 100 лв (1,489 Kwacha) | 780 Kwacha | + 91% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 57 лв (841 Kwacha) | 670 Kwacha | + 26% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 212 лв (3,144 Kwacha) | 1,973 Kwacha | + 59% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (1,688 Kwacha) | 1,458 Kwacha | + 16% | |
Transportation | + 6% | |||
Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 6% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 50,072 лв (743,765 Kwacha) | 302,797 Kwacha | + 146% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.64 лв (39 Kwacha) | 30 Kwacha | + 31% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 45 лв (664 Kwacha) | 918 Kwacha | - 28% | |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв (213 Kwacha) | 284 Kwacha | - 25% | |
Personal Care | + 110% | |||
Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 110% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 12 лв (185 Kwacha) | 113 Kwacha | + 63% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (363 Kwacha) | 69 Kwacha | + 427% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 77 лв (1,145 Kwacha) | 341 Kwacha | + 236% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (145 Kwacha) | 83 Kwacha | + 75% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв (90 Kwacha) | 61 Kwacha | + 46% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (86 Kwacha) | 67 Kwacha | + 28% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (52 Kwacha) | 33 Kwacha | + 56% | |
Tube of toothpaste | 4.78 лв (71 Kwacha) | 30 Kwacha | + 134% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (356 Kwacha) | 159 Kwacha | + 124% | |
Entertainment | + 150% | |||
Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 150% more expensive than in Lusaka (Zambia) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Lusaka | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 50 лв (747 Kwacha) | 436 Kwacha | + 71% | |
2 tickets to the movies | 25 лв (378 Kwacha) | 72 Kwacha | + 427% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (800 Kwacha) | 399 Kwacha | + 101% | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (1,574 Kwacha) | 417 Kwacha | + 278% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (194 Kwacha) | 54 Kwacha | + 257% | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (77 Kwacha) | 34 Kwacha | + 126% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.27 лв (63 Kwacha) | 50 Kwacha | + 27% | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (18,154 Kwacha) | 4,666 Kwacha | + 289% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (3.96 Kwacha) | 1.31 Kwacha | + 203% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 69 лв (1,026 Kwacha) | 771 Kwacha | + 33% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (113 Kwacha) | 47 Kwacha | + 143% | |
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TOTAL | + 36% |

These prices were last updated on February 06, 2025.
Exchange rate:
14.854
ZMW
/
BGN
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For example, you would need at least 63,742 Kwacha (4,291 лв) in Sofia to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with 47,000 Kwacha in Lusaka.
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