Should you visit Mamaia or Plovdiv?
Should I visit Mamaia or Plovdiv? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Mamaia
The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Plovdiv or Mamaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mamaia is $57, while the average daily cost in Plovdiv is $71. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Mamaia and Plovdiv in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mamaia For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $78 in Plovdiv For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Mamaia costs travelers about $20 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Food in Plovdiv costs travelers about $19 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mamaia $20
Plovdiv $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Bulgarian food cooking class:
$49
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Mamaia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $24 on transportation in Mamaia on average per day.
To get around in Plovdiv, the average visitor spends $20 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Taxi transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia Airport:
$102
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Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$64
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Private Transfer from Plovdiv Airport to Sofia (SOF) Airport:
$146
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Private One-way Transfer Plovdiv Airport to Hotel or vice versa:
$36
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Plovdiv to Velingrad Passenger Transfer:
$96
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Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo Passenger Transfer:
$131
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Plovdiv to Stara Zagora Passenger Transfer:
$73
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Plovdiv to Sofia Airport Transfer:
$93
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Plovdiv to Pamporovo Passenger Transfer:
$78
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Plovdiv to Burgas Passenger Transfer:
$159
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Plovdiv to Borovets Passenger Transfer:
$96
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Plovdiv to Bansko Passenger Transfer:
$113
Is it cheaper to fly into Mamaia or Plovdiv?
Prices for flights to both Plovdiv and Mamaia 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Mamaia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $11 per day, per person.
In Plovdiv, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Ancient Bulgarian warriors - Private tour:
$117
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Audio Guide for All Plovdiv Sights, Attractions or Experiences:
$14
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Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress - private day tour from Plovdiv:
$62
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Day Tour Rose Valley from Plovdiv - In the Footsteps of Rosa Damascena:
$185
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Day Tour from Plovdiv - Magical Koprivshtitsa, Landscapes & Wine:
$179
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Day Tour from Plovdiv full with History, Nature & Forgotten Village Experiences:
$165
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Eastern Rhodopes Day Tour from Plovdiv - Thracian Tombs, History & Wine Culture:
$192
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Guided tour "Love Stories of Sofia":
$496
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Half-Day Private Tour in Central Rhodope Mountain:
$82
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Kazanlak-Rose Valley-Valley of the Thracian Kings - private tour from Plovdiv:
$91
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Koprivshtitsa - private day tour from Plovdiv:
$85
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Miraculous Water Springs Private Tour:
$82
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mamaia spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Plovdiv spend on average $8.50 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
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Plovdiv Cultural Pub Crawl:
$13
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Wine Tasting in Villa Yustina:
$14
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Plovdiv Aylak Pub Crawl:
$24
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Plovdiv Exquisite Wine Tasting:
$45
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Family Wineries Half-Day Wine Tour:
$79
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Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv:
$81
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Craft Beer and Wine Tour from Plovdiv:
$92
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Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting:
$123
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Full Day Wine Tour from Plovdiv:
$162
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mamaia and Plovdiv, we can see that Plovdiv is more expensive. And not only is Mamaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mamaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mamaia 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 Mamaia.
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