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

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.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Amman?

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 Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $75. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amman $49
    Sofia $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Sofia $78
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.

Hotels in Amman


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: Amman Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amman $24
    Sofia $8.07
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.70
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

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

  • From Dead Sea and Petra Day Trip with Transfers: $249
  • Amman Private Transfer To Tel Aviv With VIP service: $240
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Petra By Minivan: $240
  • Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $223
  • Petra Transfer From Or To Amman: $220
  • 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
  • Private Transfer from Queen Alia Airport, Amman to The Dead Sea: $155
  • Petra Transfer to and from Airport: $150
  • Amman Private Transfer To Jerusalem With VIP Service: $150
  • Wadi Rum Private Transfer to or from Amman or Airport: $150

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $178
  • Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $63
  • Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $187
  • Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $80
  • Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $126
  • Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $18
  • Transfer from Bucharest to Sofia: $475
  • Transfer Sofia Airport/city to Plovdiv with a sedan 3+1: $100
  • Transfer Services in Bulgaria: Sofia Airport and Hotel Transfers: $80
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $30
  • Sofia Airport to Borovets Shared Transfer (Max 60 Min Wait): $26
  • Sofia Airport to Borovets Shared Transfer (Max 60 Min Wait): $26

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amman $58
    Sofia $30
Typical Food Prices in Amman

For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $4.23
  • 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:

  • Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $70
  • Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $100
  • Private Half Day Jerash Visit & Optional Cooking Class from Amman: $107
  • Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $127
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $147

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: $45
  • Guided Walking Tour With Traditional Banitza Cooking Class: $84
  • Private Traditional Bulgarian Cooking in Central Sofia: $98
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Sofia $5.70

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
  • Tour to the hidden Kingdom of the north: $300
  • 1-Night Private Overnight Dead Sea Independent Tour from Amman : $145
  • 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
  • 1-Night Private Overnight Wadi Mujib Independent Tour from Amman: $271
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Tour: $175
  • 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
  • 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $440
  • 2 Days Ma'in Hot Springs Private Tour: $95
  • 2 Days Petra Private Guided Tour: $240
  • 2 Days Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $240
  • 2 Days Petra and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $240

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: $114
  • 2 Hours Walking Tour in Sofia City and Tasting: $41
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $79
  • 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour: $51
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $89
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $20
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $104
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $56
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $58
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $73
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $56
  • Belogradchik Full-day Tour from Sofia: $72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Sofia $8.08

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman: $87

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $18
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $19
  • Wine and tapas - Bulgarian's wine tasting experience: $26
  • Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting : $32
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $32
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $51
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $56
  • Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour: $58
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $63
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $72
  • Melnik Wine Tour: $128
  • Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia - Lunch, Wine Tasting & The Unique Stob Pyramids: $135


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.