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

Should you visit Sochi or Sofia?

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

Should I visit Sochi or Sofia? 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 Sofia?

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.

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 The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Sofia 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 Sofia is $65. 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 Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sochi $15
    Sofia $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sochi $30
    Sofia $82
Compare Hotels in Sochi and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Sochi 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 Sochi


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: Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sochi -
    Sofia $8.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $49
  • Airport Transfers in Bulgaria: $67
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $88
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Van: $77
  • Bansko Shuttle: Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $100
  • Bansko Transfer From/to Sofia Airport and Hotels: $266
  • Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $178
  • Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
  • Borovets Transfers from/to Sofia Airport: $105
  • Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Car: $88
  • Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Van: $77
  • From Bansko Transfer with Rila Monastery Visit: $131

Is it cheaper to fly into Sochi or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia 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 $18
    Sofia $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Market Food Tour: $48
  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $49
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $50
  • Bulgarian Food tasting and Cooking classes: $89
  • Private Traditional Bulgarian Cooking in Central Sofia: $98
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $99
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $108
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $110
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $120
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $120
  • Private Sofia Evening Tour with Folklore Dinner: $122
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $133

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sochi $114
    Sofia $6.02

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • Audio Guided Museum Paleontology and Historical Geology Ticket: $3.88
  • Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.55
  • Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery: $6.65
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
  • Self-guided tour of Boyana Church: $7.77
  • Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • Audio Guide for All Sofia Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $12
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Sofia Audio guide Tour offers available in 7 languages: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sochi -
    Sofia $8.54

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $17
  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $20
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour: $61
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $65
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $67
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $77
  • 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $88
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $100
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $109


When comparing the travel costs between Sochi and Sofia, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Sochi or Sofia?

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