Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Bodrum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bodrum or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bodrum and Sofia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bodrum or Sofia?
Bodrum
Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey's southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. The city features twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle. This medieval fortress was built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, completed in the 4th century B.C. The city is also a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Although more than a million tourists flock to its beaches, boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and clubs each summer, the town of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) never seems to lose its cool. More than any other Turkish seaside getaway, it has an enigmatic elegance that pervades it. The evocative castle and the ancient ruins around town also help keep Bodrum a discerning step above the rest.
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 Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Turkey, 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 dayBodrum $92Sofia $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Bodrum is $92, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $64. 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 Bodrum and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBodrum $48Sofia $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBodrum $96Sofia $80
Compare Hotels in Bodrum and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Bodrum 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: Bodrum Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bodrum $24Sofia $8.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodrum
Also for Bodrum, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Bodrum Milas Airport to Seferihisar: $218
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Kusadasi Hotels: $202
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Mugla City Center Hotels: $174
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Akyaka Hotels: $174
- Transfer From Bodrum Milas Airport to Kusadasi: $131
- Bodrum Akyarlar Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $125
- Transfer From Bodrum Milas Airport to Soke (Söke): $125
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Kadikalesi Hotels: $114
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bodrum Airport to Marmaris Hotels: $109
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Akyarlar Hotels: $109
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Yalikavak Hotels: $104
- Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers to Turgutreis Hotels: $101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $687
- From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $448
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $292
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sozopol: $292
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Varna (VAR) Airport: $273
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Kavala: $237
- Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $224
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $195
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $194
- Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $191
- VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $186
- Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Bodrum or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Bodrum 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 dayBodrum $24Sofia $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bodrum
For Bodrum, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Authentic Etrim Village: $44
- Christmas Dinner at Karnas Vineyards: $104
- Farmers Market visit & Turkish Cooking Class: $125
- Bodrum Market Visit and Cooking Class: $128
- Bodrum Vineyard Tour with Dinner and Wine Pairing: $128
- Food and Wine pairing Dinner at Karnas Vineyards Bodrum: $131
- Bodrum Cooking Class: $174
- Private Sunset Boat Tour in Bodrum With Dinner: $221
- Shore Excursions - Istanbul by Night: Turkish Food Tour: $252
- Private Vineyard Tour with Dinner Under the Stars in Karnas: $291
- From Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner & Swimming: $320
- Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner: $368
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
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $48
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $97
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $106
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $108
- 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: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bodrum $31Sofia $5.92
Tours and Activities in Bodrum
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bodrum.
- 2 Hours Private Sightseeing and Walking Tour in Bodrum: $106
- A Breathtaking Pamukkale Day Tour from Bodrum: $278
- All Inclusive Private BODRUM to Ephesus, Mary's House, Lunch Tour: $299
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Virgin Mary's House from Bodrum: $104
- Blue cruise around Bodrum bays: $28
- Boat tour: Bodrum Private Boat Tour for Cruise Customers: $801
- Bodrum ↔ Gulf of Gökova | Cabin Charter Cruise: $941
- Bodrum Black island Tour: $26
- Bodrum Buggy Safari Tours: $57
- Bodrum City Sightseeing Walk: $150
- Bodrum City Tour: 5-Hour Private Excursion with Lunch: $267
- Bodrum City Walking Morning Sightseeing Tour: $213
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: $98
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $109
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
- 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: $98
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $108
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBodrum $14Sofia $8.39
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: $75
- From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bodrum and Sofia, we can see that Bodrum 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 Bodrum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodrum 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 Bodrum Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bodrum or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bodrum. When comparing the sizes of Bodrum 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.