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

Should you visit Kosice or Sofia?

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 Kosice and Sofia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Kosice or Sofia?

Kosice

Founded in the 13th century, Kosice today is the second largest city in Slovakia featuring churches, cathedrals, and fortifications which speak to its roots as a center of activity during the Middle Ages. Some of its top attractions include the city's historical center, Singing Fountain, and Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Slovakia, The Best Adventure Tours to Slovakia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Kosice?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kosice is €137, while the average daily cost in Sofia is €60. 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 Kosice and Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kosice 73
    Sofia 38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kosice 146
    Sofia 76
Compare Hotels in Kosice and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Kosice 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 Kosice


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: Kosice Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kosice 29
    Sofia 7.88

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $696
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $455
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sozopol: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sunny Beach: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Thessaloniki: $257
  • Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $227
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $197
  • Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $196
  • VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $187
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Nis: $184
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $176

Is it cheaper to fly into Kosice or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia and Kosice 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
    Kosice 42
    Sofia 17

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.
    Kosice 24
    Sofia 5.56

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: $116
  • Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $110
  • 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $87
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $83
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $99
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $109
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $61
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $60
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $76
  • Archaeological tour-From the Neolithic to Modern times in Augusta Trayana: $109
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kosice 23
    Sofia 7.88

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 Kosice and Sofia, we can see that Kosice 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 Kosice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kosice 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 Kosice Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kosice or Sofia?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kosice. When comparing the sizes of Kosice 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.