Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Debrecen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Debrecen or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Debrecen or Sofia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Debrecen or Sofia?
Debrecen
Finding its beginning as a collection of agricultural villages, Debrecen has grown to become the second largest city in Hungary as well as the regional center for the Northern Great Plain region. Highlights include the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen, Hortobagy National Park, Deri Museum, and the Debrecen Zoo and Botanical Garden.
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 10-Day Tours in Hungary, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Hungary, 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 dayDebrecen $68Sofia $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Debrecen is $68, 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 Debrecen and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDebrecen $34Sofia $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDebrecen $68Sofia $82
Compare Hotels in Debrecen and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Debrecen 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: Debrecen Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Debrecen $11Sofia $8.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Debrecen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Debrecen:
- Debrecen - Budapest Transfer: $169
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia APT-HTL (SOF): $48
- Private Guided Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko Ski Resort with a Rila Monastery visit: $52
- Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
- Private Transfer from Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Business Car: $54
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $54
- From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $54
- Private Airport Transfer from/to Sofia Bulgaria: $55
- Private Departure Transfer from Sunny Beach to Burgas Airport: $66
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $66
- Airport Transfers in Bulgaria: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Debrecen or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Debrecen 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 dayDebrecen $24Sofia $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 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: $119
- 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Debrecen $17Sofia $5.98
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: $3.84
- Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.72
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Audio Guide for All Sofia Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $12
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Self-Guided Tour in Sofia: $15
- Private Kayak Tour on the Pancharevo Lake: $16
- Rila Monastery History Walking Tour: $16
- Communist Walking Tour: $18
- Pokémon GO Private Tour of Sofia: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDebrecen $9.43Sofia $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
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $66
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $110
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $120
When comparing the travel costs between Debrecen and Sofia, we can see that Debrecen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Debrecen Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Debrecen or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Debrecen. When comparing the sizes of Debrecen 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.