A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alexandria vs. Sofia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alexandria or Sofia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Sofia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alexandria or Sofia?

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

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 Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Alexandria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $16, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $66. 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 Alexandria and Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alexandria $7.80
    Sofia $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alexandria $16
    Sofia $82
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Alexandria 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.

Hotels in Alexandria


Hotels in Sofia


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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alexandria $2.43
    Sofia $8.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Private transfer from Alexandria to Luxor: $259
  • From Private Transfer to Luxor: $254
  • Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $245
  • Private Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria To Cairo: $130
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $86
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
  • Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $53
  • transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45
  • Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $26
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria Airport (HBE): $17
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria Port: $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $49
  • Airport Transfers in Bulgaria: $66
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $87
  • Bansko Transfer From/to Sofia Airport and Hotels: $264
  • Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $176
  • Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
  • Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Car: $87
  • Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Van: $76
  • From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $54
  • From Plovdiv Day Tour with Transfer: $72
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $648
  • From Private Transfer to Spa in Sapareva Banya: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia and Alexandria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alexandria $6.30
    Sofia $19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
  • Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
  • Alexandria Food Tour: $50
  • Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $60
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94

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 City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $107
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alexandria $3.41
    Sofia $6.04

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • National Museum and Egyptian museum Private Tour in Egypt: $258
  • 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
  • 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
  • 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $80
  • 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
  • Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
  • Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
  • Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
  • Alexandria By Night Private Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage Ride: $75
  • Alexandria By Night Private Tour By Horse Carriage Ride And Free Walking Tour: $55
  • Alexandria By Night Private Tour By Horse Carriage Ride And Free Walking Tour : $55
  • Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $87

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.50
  • City Monuments Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Sofia Audio guide Tour offers available in 7 languages: $14
  • Self-Guided Tour in Sofia: $15
  • E-guide for Any Sight, Tour, Trip or Experience in Bulgaria: $17
  • Private Kayak Tour on the Pancharevo Lake: $17
  • Communist Walking Tour: $18
  • See the nicest spots on this Sofia sightseeing tour: $18
  • Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $18
  • Discover Sofia City Tour: $18
  • Pokémon GO Private Tour of Sofia: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alexandria $1.32
    Sofia $8.56

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
  • Wine and tapas - Bulgarian's wine tasting experience: $27
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
  • Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour: $61
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $66
  • Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $120
  • Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia - Lunch, Wine Tasting & The Unique Stob Pyramids: $141
  • Melnik Wine Tour: $150
  • From Full-Day Plovdiv Tour including Wine Tasting: $150


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Sofia, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Sofia is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Sofia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sofia than you might in Alexandria.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Sofia?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria 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.