A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar vs. Sofia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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: Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Sofia?

Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Located in northeast Romania, Cluj-Napoca is the capital of the Transylvania region and one of the nation's most-visited cities. Many visitors come to experience the modern Transylvanian university culture, admire historic churches and other landmarks, see fortress ruins, and visit museums.

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 Adventure Tours to Romania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Romania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar is $85, 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $50
    Sofia $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $100
    Sofia $82
Compare Hotels in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar


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: Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $14
    Sofia $8.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:

  • Private Transfer Cluj Napoca Airport: $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $49
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $87
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Van: $76
  • Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
  • From Bansko Transfer with Rila Monastery Visit: $130
  • From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $54
  • From Plovdiv Day Tour with Transfer: $72
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $455
  • From Private Transfer to Plovdiv: $98
  • From Private Transfer to Spa in Sapareva Banya: $92
  • From Rila Monastery & Melnik Day Trip with Transfers: $94
  • Private Airport Transfer from/to Sofia Bulgaria: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $25
    Sofia $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

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

  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $49
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $50
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $108
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $119
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $119
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $132

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $8.00
    Sofia $6.00

Tours and Activities in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Here are a few actual costs in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • CLUJ ADVENTURE TOUR ! ZIP LINE and HIKE: $99
  • Cluj : Private Walking Tour with Guide ( Private Tour ): $33
  • Cluj walking city tour: $58
  • Cluj-Napoca Walking City Tour: $39
  • Cluj-Napoca: 2.5-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $26
  • Curly Tour - Day trip from Cluj :): $88
  • Local Tour of Cluj by Electric Bike: $50
  • Night Tour in Hoia Baciu Forest: $94
  • Private Climbing OR Hiking Experience in Cheile Turzii: $77
  • Private Full Day Green Tour: $121
  • Snowshoeing Fun Tour from Cluj Napoca: $99
  • Transylvania: Dracula's Castle and Birthplace Tour: $120

Tours and Activities in Sofia

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

  • Audio Guided Museum Paleontology and Historical Geology Ticket: $3.86
  • Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.51
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
  • Self-guided tour of Boyana Church: $7.71
  • Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.93
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Sofia Audio guide Tour offers available in 7 languages: $14
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
  • Communist Walking Tour: $16
  • Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $6.83
    Sofia $8.51

Sample the Local Flavors in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:

  • Pub Crawl in Cluj: $23

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $60
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $66
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
  • 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $99
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
  • Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $110
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $116
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $141


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Sofia, we can see that Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Sofia?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar. When comparing the sizes of Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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.