Travel Budget for Sofia Visit Sofia on a Budget or Travel in Style

Sofia, Oblast Sofiya-Grad, Bulgaria

How much does it cost to travel to Sofia?

You should plan to spend around $65 (ư118) per day on your vacation in Sofia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $18 (ư33) on meals
  • $8.53 (ư15) on local transportation
  • $82 (ư148) on hotels

A one week trip to Sofia for two people costs, on average, $916 (ư1,653). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $65
    ư118
  • One Week Per person
    $458
    ư826
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $916
    ư1,653
  • One Month Per person
    $1,962
    ư3,542
  • One Week For a couple
    $916
    ư1,653
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $1,831
    ư3,306
  • One Month For a couple
    $3,924
    ư7,083
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Sofia cost?

A one week trip to Sofia usually costs around $458 (ư826) for one person and $916 (ư1,653) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Sofia on average costs around $916 (ư1,653) for one person and $1,831 (ư3,306) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Sofia will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Sofia on average costs around $1,962 (ư3,542) for one person and $3,924 (ư7,083) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Sofia has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Sofia expensive to visit?

Sofia is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Bulgaria, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Sofia is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Avignon.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Sofia Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Sofia?

The average Sofia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Sofia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) ư148 ($82)
Local Transportation 1 ư15 ($9)
Food 2 ư33 ($18)
Entertainment 1 ư11 ($6)
Alcohol 2 ư8 - 23 ($4 - 13)
Accommodation Budget in Sofia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Sofia is $41 (ư74). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Sofia is $82 (ư148). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $41
    ư74
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $82
    ư148

Hotel Prices in Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Sofia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Sofia based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $45. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Sofia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Sofia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $8.53 (ư15) per person, per day, on local transportation in Sofia.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $8.53
    ư15

Recommended Services


Flights to Sofia
How much does it cost to go to Sofia? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Sofia
The price of renting a car in Sofia will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Sofia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Sofia can vary, the average cost of food in Sofia is $18 (ư33) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Sofia should cost around $7.39 (ư13) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sofia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $18
    ư33

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Sofia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Sofia typically cost an average of $6.02 (ư11) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $6.02
    ư11

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Sofia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $8.54 (ư15) on alcoholic beverages in Sofia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $8.54
    ư15

Recommended


Sofia On a Budget
Sofia Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.

Sofia is also conveniently located in close proximity to a popular ski resort at Vitosha mountain. It is jumping off distance to explore and enjoy some beautiful countryside and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The climate in Sofia is humid continental and the winters are cold and snowy while the summers are warm and sunny. At it's coldest, the city can reach around -15 degrees Celsius. It's not uncommon for there to be fog during the winter and there are on average 60 days with snow cover a year. Even during the summer months, Sofia is usually a little cooler than the rest of Bulgaria because of its high altitude. During heat waves though, temperatures can reach 35 degrees Celsius. During the spring and fall months temperatures and weather conditions can vary widely.
Sights
The city itself has some wonderful museums, galleries, parks and gardens. Popular sights include the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Sofia University, the National Palace of Culture, the National Museum of Military History, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church and the Church of St. George, among others.

If you're in town on a weekend you can easily find an interesting street market. Booths will line the street with vendors selling knickknacks of varying quality. Some items are fascinating representations of the Communist era and can make for a unique souvenir.
Neighborhoods
There are 24 districts to Sofia, which include three other towns and 34 villages. Some notable districts include Oborishte, Sredets, Vazrazhdane, Mladost and Vitosha. Oborishte is at the heart of the city and where you'll find the majority of the landmarks and monuments. The architecture is predominantly neo-Renaissance and Viennese in style. There is also an impressive green belt. Sredets is next to Oborishte and it has similar architecture. This is where the Gardens of Boris is located as well as the Vasil Levski National Stadium. Vazrazhdane is the economic center of the city. There are many banks, manufacturing companies as well as the Central Sofia Market Hall and St. Nedelya Church. Mladost is a rapidly developing part of the city. A large portion of the population resides here and there are great transportation connections. Vitosha is at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain. There are many luxury estates and villas here, and there are many transportation connections to the city center.

Activities
Activities in Sofia include the opera and ballet, citywide tours, swimming areas and spas. Popular festivals include the Sofia Film Festival, Sofia Design Week, and the Water Tower Art Fest, among others. Do take note that during major national holidays such as Christmas or Orthodox Easter, the city is completely deserted and many places are closed.
Food and Dining
There are plenty of restaurants in Sofia, and it easily has the best food selection in all of Bulgaria. If you're on a particularly tight budget, fast food options are abundant and many places offer a convenient take away service. Pizza is ubiquitous in Sofia and is often one of the cheapest options available. Also consider trying some of the interesting pastry options available around town, many of which are filled with a hearty meat filling. Salads are another great option in Sofia. They usually do not include lettuce, but instead have an impressive diversity of ingredients that are fresh and delicious. The feta style cheese in particular is quite good. Also, plenty of Vegan restaurants can be found in Sofia, too. You can find some more traditional restaurants around Sofia as well. Many are more expensive, but have a fun atmosphere with folk music or some form of live entertainment. International restaurants are often more expensive than you might expect, but the food is usually good and a nice break from the options available elsewhere in Bulgaria.

Transportation
Public transportation in Sofia is well established and efficient. There are buses, trolleys, trams, and a subway. In all, there are 15 tram lines, 9 trolley lines, 93 bus lines and two metro lines. It is helpful to know that bus #84 runs from the airport to the city center. There is also a subway line that connects to the airport. The entire public transportation system operates between the hours of 5 am and 12 am. After that time you must take a taxi. The city's taxi's are yellow and they can be flagged down on the street or called by phone. They are usually fast, reliable, and affordable.
More Information
If you want to learn more about Bulgaria, check out 55 Facts About Bulgaria that will Leave You Speechless.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.