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

Should you visit Beirut 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 Beirut 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: Beirut or Sofia?

Beirut

Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.

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.


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For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Beirut?

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 Beirut is $2.77, 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 Beirut and Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Beirut $1.26
    Sofia $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Beirut $2.52
    Sofia $78
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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 Beirut


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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Beirut $0.44
    Sofia $8.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut

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

  • Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $44
  • Private Transfer from Beirut to Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport: $44
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
  • Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
  • Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
  • Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
  • Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia HTL-APT (SOF): $48
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia APT-HTL (SOF): $48
  • Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $63
  • Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $182
  • Transfer from Sofia to Nessebar: $266
  • Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $79
  • Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
  • Transfer from Bucharest to Sofia: $481
  • Transfer Sofia Airport/city to Plovdiv with a sedan 3+1: $99
  • Transfer Services in Bulgaria: Sofia Airport and Hotel Transfers: $80
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $30
  • Sofia City Private Transfer to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia and Beirut 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
    Beirut $1.23
    Sofia $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut

For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
  • Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
  • Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
  • Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142

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
  • Private Traditional Bulgarian Cooking in Central Sofia: $98
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $103
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $141

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Beirut $0.26
    Sofia $5.76

Tours and Activities in Beirut

For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $250
  • ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $150
  • ATV Adventure Half Day Guided Tour: $120
  • Anjar baalback & Ksara tour: $130
  • Baalback Roman temples tour: $128
  • Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Guided Full-Day Tour from Beirut: $90
  • Beirut : Must-See Attractions Walking Tour With Guide: $65
  • Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $33
  • Beirut City Tour with Street Food : $90
  • Beirut Downtown, Corniche and National Museum Tour: $85
  • Beirut Full Day Walking Tour: $41
  • Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35

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: $78
  • 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour: $51
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $90
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $20
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $103
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $61
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $57
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $73
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $57
  • Bike Tours in Sofia: $57

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Beirut $0.23
    Sofia $8.17

Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut

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

  • Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut: $50
  • Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
  • Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
  • Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
  • Byblos & Chateau Musar: History and Wine Tour: $65
  • Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
  • Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
  • Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch from Beirut: $82
  • Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
  • Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
  • Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110

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: $19
  • Wine and Tapas - Bulgarian's Wine Tasting Experience: $23
  • Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting : $25
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $57
  • Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour: $57
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $63
  • 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $82
  • Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $114
  • Melnik Wine Tour: $144
  • Melnik Wine Tasting tour from Sofia: $145
  • Plovdiv and Wine Tasting Day Tour from Sofia: $145


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Sofia, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.

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


Which is Bigger, Beirut or Sofia?

Beirut has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.