A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sochi vs. Plovdiv for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sochi or Plovdiv?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sochi or Plovdiv? 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: Sochi or Plovdiv?

Sochi

Located on the coast of the Black Sea, Sochi is one of the southernmost major cities in Russia. It is especially busy in the summer when native Russians and international visitors alike come to enjoy the mountainous coastline and sunny beaches. Sochi is also known as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and many of the Olympic venues can still be visited today.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Plovdiv or Sochi?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sochi is $60, 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 Sochi and Plovdiv in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sochi $14
    Plovdiv $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sochi $28
    Plovdiv $88
Compare Hotels in Sochi and Plovdiv

Looking for a hotel in Sochi 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.

Hotels in Sochi


Hotels in Plovdiv


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sochi -
    Plovdiv $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv

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

  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $262
  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $147
  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $354
  • Private One-way Transfer Plovdiv Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $42
  • Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
  • Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $147
  • Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
  • Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Bansko: $134
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $190
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $103
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Stara Zagora: $87

Is it cheaper to fly into Sochi or Plovdiv?

Prices for flights to both Plovdiv and Sochi 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
    Sochi $17
    Plovdiv $21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sochi $112
    Plovdiv $15

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
  • Plovdiv Private City Walking Tour Old Town & Ancient Stadium: $21
  • Guided Walking Tour: $21
  • Plovdiv guided walking tour: $22
  • Local Adventures in the Rhodope Mountains: $32
  • Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
  • Plovdiv - Private walking tour: $41
  • Walking tour of Plovdiv's top attractions: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sochi -
    Plovdiv $9.57

Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:

  • Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
  • Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
  • Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $91
  • Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
  • From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $133


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sochi and Plovdiv, we can see that Plovdiv is more expensive. And not only is Sochi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sochi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sochi 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 Sochi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sochi Expensive? and Is Plovdiv Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sochi or Plovdiv?

Plovdiv has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Sochi. When comparing the sizes of Sochi 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.