Which place is cheaper, Plovdiv or Kiev?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kiev or Plovdiv?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kiev and Plovdiv can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kiev or Plovdiv?
Kiev
Kiev is the capital city and also the largest city in the Ukraine, with a population of almost 3 million in the metropolitan area. It is situated on the Dnieper River in the north central part of the country and is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, dating back to the fifth century. The people in Kiev are quite friendly and welcoming, and are happy to have you in their city. It can, however, be difficult to communicate and get around if you don't speak at least a little Russian. It is doable with a little sign language and the help of a guide book with translations though.
Plovdiv
Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, and The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKiev $26Plovdiv $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Kiev is $26, while the average daily cost in Plovdiv is $80. 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 Kiev and Plovdiv in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKiev $17Plovdiv $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKiev $34Plovdiv $88
Compare Hotels in Kiev and Plovdiv
Looking for a hotel in Kiev or Plovdiv? 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: Plovdiv Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kiev $1.03Plovdiv $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kiev
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiev:
- Zhyliany Airport Kyiv: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer from Kiev: $31
- VIP Airport Transfer Service in Kiev: $43
- Strategic Missile Forces Base: Round-Trip Transfer from Kyiv& Museum Guided Tour: $145
- Private Transfer: From Kyiv city to Zhulyany International Airport: $54
- Private Transfer Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to Zhytomyr.: $173
- Private Departure Transfer: International Airport Kyiv Zhuliany from Kyiv Hotel: $29
- Private Departure Transfer To Kyiv International Airport Zhuliany(IEV): $24
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kyiv International Airport Zhuliany(IEV): $24
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $24
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer from Kyiv Boryspil Airport: $30
- Luxury Arrival Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $80
- Kiev Departure Private Transfers from Kiev City to Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Pamporovo: $89
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $104
- Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $148
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $148
- Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $191
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $263
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $356
- Varna: Private Transfer from Varna to Plovdiv: $378
Is it cheaper to fly into Kiev or Plovdiv?
Prices for flights to both Plovdiv and Kiev 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 dayKiev $7.23Plovdiv $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kiev
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kiev.
- "Kiev Private Food Tour" - Taste the best Ukraine has to offer: $53
- Ukrainian cooking master class − the tastiest master class in Kyiv: $103
- Kyiv Restaurant Food Tour: Ukrainian Cuisine Tasting: $112
- Private Gastro/Food Tour In Kyiv : $144
- Cooking master class: $226
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kiev $2.03Plovdiv $15
Tours and Activities in Kiev
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kiev are as follows:
- "Kiev Private 6 Hour Food, History & Nightlife Tour": $92
- 1- or 3-Hour Private Kyiv Guided Bike Tour: $56
- 2 Hours Kyiv Street Art Tour : $32
- 2-Day Small-Group Tour to Lviv from Kiev by Intercity Train: $224
- 2-days Group Tour To The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: $279
- 3-Day Small-Group Highlights Tour of Kyiv: $279
- Adventure City Center Tour : $120
- Best Kyiv Architecture tour, city from a height: $70
- Borodyanka, Bucha, Irpin, Banksy & More Graffiti Tour: $180
- Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 1-day tour: $97
- Chernobyl Tour with Gift : $107
- Custom Kyiv Walking Tour with Private Local Guide: $28
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Plovdiv Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Pokémon GO Private Tour of Plovdiv: $17
- Plovdiv Communist Walking Tour Soviet Landmarks: $20
- Plovdiv Communist Walking Tour Soviet Landmarks: $20
- Guided Walking Tour: $21
- Plovdiv Private City Walking Tour Old Town & Ancient Stadium: $21
- Plovdiv guided walking tour: $22
- Private Virtual Tour in Plovdiv with a Local Guide: $32
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
- Plovdiv - Private walking tour: $41
- Walking tour of Plovdiv's top attractions: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKiev $6.37Plovdiv $9.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Kiev
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kiev:
- Kiev Bar Crawl - Private Nightlife Tour: $49
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
- Plovdiv Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $92
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
- From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $134
- Half-Day of Horseback Adventure with Wine Tasting: $168
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kiev and Plovdiv, we can see that Plovdiv is more expensive. And not only is Kiev much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiev would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiev 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 Plovdiv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Plovdiv than you might in Kiev.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kiev Expensive? and Is Plovdiv Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kiev or Plovdiv?
Kiev has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Plovdiv. When comparing the sizes of Kiev and Plovdiv, 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.