Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amman or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Sofia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Sofia?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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 Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $110Sofia $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $65. 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 Amman and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Sofia $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Sofia $82
Compare Hotels in Amman and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Amman 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: Amman Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Sofia $8.47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Aqaba from Amman or Queen Alia Airport: $360
- Wadi Rum transfer from - to Amman: $323
- Transfer to Petra from Amman /Amman Airport: $290
- Amman Private Transfer To Tel Aviv: $275
- Amman Or Airport Private Transfer To Petra By Kings Way: $260
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $257
- transfers Queen Alia Airport or Amman from/to Petra: $242
- Petra Full Day Tour with Hotel Transfer: $204
- Transfer Amman To/From Petra: $200
- Private Transfer From Amman Airport To Petra: $190
- Private Transfer from Allenby King Hussein Bridge to Aqaba Airport: $173
- Petra or WadiRum transfer to/from Amman, Airport, Madaba, Deadsea: $167
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $66
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $195
- Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $192
- Transfer from Sofia to Burgas: $269
- Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $83
- Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $132
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $196
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $692
- Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $54
- Private transfer: Sofia Airport (SOF) to Sofia: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Amman 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 dayAmman $34Sofia $18
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Amman:Home resturant lunch and dinner: $37
- Private Day or Night Amman Sightseeing - Optional Cooking or Wine Tasting Tour : $51
- 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $90
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
- Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $113
- 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Market Food Tour: $47
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $107
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $118
- Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $118
- Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $118
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Sofia $5.98
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Amman :Private day tour to Jerash and Ajloun: $81
- Full Day Tour in Baptism Site, Mount Nebo and Madaba: $85
- 01 Day Tour to Dead Sea From Amman: $220
- 1 Day Tour: Amman and Jerash: $176
- 1-Day Tour: Amman and Dead Sea: $161
- 1-Night Private Overnight Dead Sea Independent Tour from Amman : $145
- 2 Day Group Tour from Amman to Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead Sea: $200
- 2 Days - 1 Night Ma'in Hot Springs Private Tour From Amman: $150
- 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $323
- 2 Days Tour of Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman: $245
- 2 Days Tour to Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $631
- 2 Private Tour Days From Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Amman: $275
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $120
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $110
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $87
- 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $82
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $93
- 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $99
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $109
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Sofia $8.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $16
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
- 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $120
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Sofia, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East 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 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman 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 Amman Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Sofia?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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.