Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 42% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland)
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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 1,741 prices entered by 133 different people.
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Food | - 29% | |||
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Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 29% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 18 лв (37 zł) | 50 zł | - 25% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (33 zł) | 40 zł | - 17% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (19 zł) | 25 zł | - 25% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.37 лв (7 zł) | 5.63 zł | + 27% | |
12 eggs, large | 8 лв (16 zł) | 19 zł | - 15% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.27 лв (9 zł) | 19 zł | - 52% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (22 zł) | 30 zł | - 27% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.63 лв (5.59 zł) | 5.49 zł | + 2% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.16 лв (4.58 zł) | 3.89 zł | + 18% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.05 лв (4.36 zł) | 5.43 zł | - 20% | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (35 zł) | 60 zł | - 41% | |
2 liters of coca-cola | 2.75 лв (5.84 zł) | 10 zł | - 44% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.04 лв (2.21 zł) | 6 zł | - 64% | |
Housing | - 58% | |||
Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 58% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,621 лв (3,441 zł) | 9,668 zł | - 64% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,113 лв (2,363 zł) | 6,984 zł | - 66% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 279 лв (592 zł) | 1,288 zł | - 54% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,050 лв (2,229 zł) | 5,273 zł | - 58% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 739 лв (1,568 zł) | 4,362 zł | - 64% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 160 лв (340 zł) | 794 zł | - 57% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (36 zł) | 78 zł | - 54% | |
40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (1,456 zł) | 2,243 zł | - 35% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (462 zł) | 696 zł | - 34% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29 лв (62 zł) | 46 zł | + 35% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 22 лв (46 zł) | 55 zł | - 17% | |
Clothes | - 37% | |||
Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 37% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 100 лв (213 zł) | 428 zł | - 50% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 72 лв (154 zł) | 216 zł | - 29% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 212 лв (449 zł) | 426 zł | + 5% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (241 zł) | 669 zł | - 64% | |
Transportation | - 36% | |||
Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 36% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 50,072 лв (106,280 zł) | 141,560 zł | - 25% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.64 лв (5.60 zł) | 8 zł | - 29% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 45 лв (95 zł) | 171 zł | - 45% | |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв (30 zł) | 49 zł | - 37% | |
Personal Care | - 35% | |||
Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 35% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (31 zł) | 28 zł | + 11% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (52 zł) | 57 zł | - 8% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 74 лв (157 zł) | 306 zł | - 49% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (21 zł) | 22 zł | - 6% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 7 лв (14 zł) | 22 zł | - 37% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (12 zł) | 17 zł | - 27% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (7 zł) | 12 zł | - 39% | |
Tube of toothpaste | 4.78 лв (10 zł) | 16 zł | - 35% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (51 zł) | 153 zł | - 67% | |
Entertainment | - 36% | |||
Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 36% cheaper than in Warsaw (Poland) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Sofia | Warsaw | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 54 лв (114 zł) | 166 zł | - 31% | |
2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв (56 zł) | 75 zł | - 26% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (114 zł) | 554 zł | - 79% | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (225 zł) | 305 zł | - 26% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (28 zł) | 49 zł | - 43% | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (11 zł) | 19 zł | - 43% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.27 лв (9 zł) | 21 zł | - 56% | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (2,594 zł) | 2,760 zł | - 6% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (0.57 zł) | 1.06 zł | - 47% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв (132 zł) | 230 zł | - 43% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (16 zł) | 28 zł | - 41% | |
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TOTAL | - 42% |

These prices were last updated on February 14, 2025.
Exchange rate:
2.123
PLN
/
BGN
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For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require 28,000 zł in Warsaw you would need to make just about 16,320 zł (7,689 лв) in Sofia.
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