Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Aegina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aegina or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aegina or Sofia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Aegina or Sofia?
Aegina
The island of Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece located in the Saronic Gulf. It is named for the mother of the hero Aeacus, who was born on the island and eventually became its king. The legend goes that the god Zeus swept Aegina away from her husband to the island where her son was born-hence the island's name became Aegina.
Sofia
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Bulgaria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAegina €92Sofia €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Aegina is €92, while the average daily cost in Sofia is €60. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aegina and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAegina €43Sofia €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAegina €86Sofia €76
Compare Hotels in Aegina and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Aegina or Sofia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aegina Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aegina €24Sofia €7.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $51
- Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $182
- Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $56
- Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Van: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $182
- Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv: $136
- Private Departure Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia Airport: $136
- Private Guided Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko Ski Resort with a Rila Monastery visit: $53
- Private One Way Transfer in Sofia: $34
- Private Transfer From Sofia to Bansko with Rila Monastery Visit: $136
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sofia City: $43
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Thessaloniki: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into Aegina or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Aegina change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAegina €34Sofia €17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Traditional Bulgarian Cooking in Central Sofia: $98
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $101
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aegina €13Sofia €5.56
Tours and Activities in Aegina
Here are a few actual costs in Aegina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aegina Discovery Tour: $99
- Aegina Walking Tour: $32
- Organic Pistachio Orchard Tour with Snacks: $55
- Coffee Roaster Tour & Greek Coffee Tasting: $25
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
- Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $16
- E-guide for Any Sight, Tour, Trip or Experience in Bulgaria: $17
- Private Kayak Tour on the Pancharevo Lake: $17
- Pokémon GO Private Tour of Sofia: $19
- The Most Affordable Private Sofia Walking Tour: $22
- Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour: $28
- Private Communist Sofia Walking Tour: $33
- Plovdiv full-day tour in Italian: $34
- Plovdiv Full Day Tour from Sofia: $34
- Full-Day Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress Tour from Sofia: $34
- The Seven Rila Lakes Day Tour From Sofia: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAegina €8.57Sofia €7.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $34
- Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour: $63
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $68
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $119
- Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $124
- Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $125
- Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia - Lunch, Wine Tasting & The Unique Stob Pyramids: $146
- Full-Day Private Thracian Valley Wine Tour Experience from Sofia: $157
- Full-Day Private Melnik Wine Tour Experience from Sofia: $158
- Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour: $192
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Sofia, we can see that Aegina is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sofia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sofia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aegina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aegina than you might in Sofia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aegina Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aegina or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Aegina. When comparing the sizes of Aegina and Sofia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.