Should you visit Sochi or Plovdiv?
Should I visit Sochi 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.
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.
Which city 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 $61, 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 Sochi and Plovdiv in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $15. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sochi the cost is $30 on average.
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
The average traveler spends about $18 per day in Sochi for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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
Sochi $18
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
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 Sochi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sochi:
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Sochi, Russia Private & Secure Airport Transfers to/from AER Airport & Sochi:
$132
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Private Sochi International Airport AER - Sochi City Round-Trip Transfer:
$55
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Private Arrival Transfer from Sochi International Airport AER to Sochi City Center:
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: from Sochi to Sochi International Airport (AER):
$23
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Minivan:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Business Car:
$52
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Airport transfer:
$66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport transfer from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach:
$35
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Plovdiv Airport/City to Sofia Airport/City Transfer:
$47
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Plovdiv to Bansko Passenger Transfer:
$113
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Plovdiv to Borovets Passenger Transfer:
$96
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Plovdiv to Burgas Passenger Transfer:
$159
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Plovdiv to Pamporovo Passenger Transfer:
$78
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Plovdiv to Sofia Airport Transfer:
$93
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Plovdiv to Stara Zagora Passenger Transfer:
$73
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Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo Passenger Transfer:
$131
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Plovdiv to Velingrad Passenger Transfer:
$96
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Private One-way Transfer Plovdiv Airport to Hotel or vice versa:
$36
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Private Transfer from Plovdiv Airport to Sofia (SOF) Airport:
$146
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.
Entertainment
Sochi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $114 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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 Sochi
Here are a few actual costs in Sochi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Agura Canyon and Waterfalls Private Trekking Tour from Sochi:
$225
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Discover Olympic Sochi and Enjoy Scenic Mountainous Views on Private Tour:
$406
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Discover the Highlights of Sochi and its Best Bird's-eye View on Private Tour:
$193
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Discover the secrets of Sochi on the shore Excursion Private Tour:
$330
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Highlights of Sochi Private Tour: Dacha of J.Stalin and Mount Akhun Views:
$330
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Magic Christmas Tour in Sochi:
$764
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Nightlife in Sochi - Private tour. Meet a Sunset at the Akhun Mountain:
$330
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Olympic Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana Private Tour:
$177
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Private Tour: Discover Sochi on a Private Stroll:
$93
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Romantic tour in Kizhi Island:
$496
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Romantic tour in Sochi:
$496
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Sightseeing tour in Sochi:
$509
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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Audio Guide for All Plovdiv Sights, Attractions or Experiences:
$14
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Plovdiv Arts & Crafts District Tour:
$14
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Pokémon GO Private Tour of Plovdiv:
$20
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Walking tour of Plovdiv's top attractions:
$26
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Plovdiv guided walking tour:
$37
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Plovdiv by bike - Private tour:
$41
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Small-group Sightseeing Walking Tour of Plovdiv:
$44
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Plovdiv - Private walking tour:
$47
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Plovdiv Sightseeing private walking tour:
$47
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Plovdiv Full-Day Private Tour:
$55
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Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress - private day tour from Plovdiv:
$62
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Private Tour with a Local Experiencing With You the Gems around Plovdiv:
$65
Alcohol
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 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.
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