Which place is cheaper, Bari or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Bari?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sofia and Bari. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Sofia or Bari?
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.
Bari
Off the lustrous, aquamarine waters of the Adriatic Sea, a bustling city hums to life as the sun sets. Though an ancient city, Bari still attains its youthful air, with a thriving nightlife and breathtaking boulevards. The capital city of Apulia region, Bari is the second most important economic center of mainland Southern Italy, as well as a significant port and university city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Bari $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Bari is $122. 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 Sofia and Bari in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Bari $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Bari $156
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Bari
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Bari? 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.
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 and Bari Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Bari $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $687
- From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $448
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $292
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sozopol: $292
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Varna (VAR) Airport: $273
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Kavala: $237
- Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $224
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $195
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $194
- Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $191
- VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $186
- Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $175
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bari
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Bari:
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Train to Lecce$47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bari
Also for Bari, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer:From BARI CENTER to ROME AIRPORTS or reverse: $1,068
- Bari or Naples: Private Transfer Service: $541
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Monte Sant'Angelo: $492
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to San Giovanni Rotondo: $492
- Private 24-seat Coach Transfer: From Bari Airport to Matera: $417
- Private transfert from Bari to Naples: $401
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Matera: $310
- Private Transfer from Bari to Amalfi with 2 hours for sightseeing: $296
- Private Transfer from Bari (BRI) Airport to Mesagne: $284
- Vineyard Wine Tasting & soft lunch & transfer included: $273
- Private Transfer from Bari to Naples with 2 hours for sightseeing: $270
- Private Transfer from Bari (BRI) Airport to Valle d'Itria: $268
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Bari?
Prices for flights to both Bari and Sofia 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
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Food Meals for one daySofia $18Bari $34
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: $47
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $48
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $97
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $106
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $108
- Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $118
- Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $118
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $131
Typical Food Prices in Bari
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bari:
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Dinner$47
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Coffee$2.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bari
For Bari, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street food tour of Polignano a Mare: $39
- Bari Walking Street Food Tour: $48
- Bari Street Food Tour by Bike: $70
- Italian Street Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $70
- Puglia Plates - Bari Food Tour: $76
- Street Food Tour in Bari old town - Do Eat Better Experience: $78
- Rickshaw Street Food Tour: $80
- Conversano: Apulian cooking lesson with dinner included: $82
- Bari Street Food Tour by Rickshaw: $82
- Bari Street Food Tour on Segway: $86
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Barletta with Show Cooking: $93
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Margherita di Savoia with Show Cooking: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Bari $9.23
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: $98
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $109
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
- 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $82
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $93
- 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $98
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $108
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Tours and Activities in Bari
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bari.
- Bari tour with a local tour guide.: $219
- Private Experience - day of fishing on the Bari coast: $219
- Guided tour and tasting at La Cantina Frrud - Wine Museum: $38
- 1.5 Hour Cave's Tour Polignano a Mare: $38
- 2 Hour Guided Walking Tour of Altamura the Lioness of Puglia: $38
- 2 Hours Private Guided Tour in the Historic Centre of Altamura: $229
- 2-Hour Bari City Tour: $241
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Bari with Street Food: $49
- Alberobello Private Tour with Pick Up: $175
- Alberobello, Monopoli Polignano Small-Group Guided Tour from Bari: $152
- Altamura walking tour: $229
- Apulia: Bike Tour through the Treasures of Bari: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Bari $14
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: $16
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
- From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $139
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bari
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Bari:
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Beer$2.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Bari
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bari:
- Afternoon Tour Secrets of Alberobello incl. Food & Wine tasting: $79
- Private Tour: Trani walking tour with Moscato wine tasting: $115
- Wine tasting experience in the Apulian countryside : $235
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Bari, we can see that Bari 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 Bari would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bari 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 Sofia Expensive? and Is Bari Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Bari?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bari. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Bari, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.