Which place is cheaper, Berlin or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Berlin?
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 Berlin. 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 Berlin?
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Berlin $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Berlin is $147. 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 Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Berlin $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Berlin $136
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Berlin? 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 Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Berlin $19
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 Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket$1.50
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Bahn Ticket$3.21
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Short Taxi Ride$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Berlin to Prague: $727
- Private Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $367
- Trabi Limousine Airport Transfer with City Tour: $358
- Private Minivan Transfer with Driver and Guide: $321
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Berlin APT-HTL (SXF): $300
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Berlin HTL-APT (SXF): $300
- Private transfer from Berlin to Prague with stops at Potsdam + Sanssouci Palace: $295
- Private Transfer from Berlin to Nuremberg with 2h of Sightseeing: $276
- Private Transfer, Berlin to Prague with 2h of Sightseeing, 8 pax: $273
- Classic Remise Private Tour with Transfer: $271
- Private transfer from Berlin to Prague with Terezin Concentration Camp stop: $267
- Private Transfer: Berlin to River Cruise Dock Nuremberg - Port/Harbor transport: $263
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin 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 $18Berlin $56
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 Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go$5.36
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Turkish Sandwich$2.14
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Currywurst$2.14
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2 Pho Noodles$9.64
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)$64
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Mauer Park (2)$12
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Coffees at Impala$8.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- English Stand-Up Comedy with Pizza and Shots: $19
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte: $28
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $34
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Berlin Mitte kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- No Diet Club - Street Food Tour with many Tastings !: $59
- Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner: $63
- Sicilian Cooking Workshop with unlimited drinks: $70
- Evening Food Tour by Bike: $70
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $76
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Berlin $24
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)$21
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- East Berlin and the Berlin Wall 2-Hour Walking Tour : $22
- Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour from Berlin.: $32
- (E) Bike Tour for Non Bikers option Rickshaw Shared Guide: $48
- 2 Hours Berlin City Guided Electric Trike Tour: $59
- 2 Hours E-Scooter Tour: $60
- 2-Hour Private Berlin Walking Tour, Berlin in the Third Reich and Cold War: $213
- 2-Hour Segway Discovery Tour Berlin: $75
- 3 Hours Berlin City Guided Electric Trike Tour: $73
- 3-Hour Bike Tour of Tiergarten and Berlin's Hidden Places: $35
- 3-Hour Private Berlin Bike Tour: Vibes of Berlin: $184
- 3D Adventure black light mini golf (Berlin): $21
- 4 Hours 2 Person Highlights Berlin Rickshaw Tour with Guide : $207
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Berlin $18
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 Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show$15
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original One80 Berlin Pub Crawl: $16
- VIP Pub Crawl with Drinks and Challenges: $16
- brewery tour with beer tasting: $19
- Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $24
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Club Entry: $24
- Berlin Pub Crawl and Nightlife Clubbing tour: $26
- The Showgirls of Burlesque: $46
- Showgirls of Burlesque Entry Ticket: $69
- Berlin:sunset boat trip with Argentine wine tasting and food: $214
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $250
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $255
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Berlin, we can see that Berlin 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 Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin 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 Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Berlin, 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.