Which place is cheaper, Dusseldorf or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Dusseldorf?
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 Dusseldorf. 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 Dusseldorf?
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.
Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is a city in western Germany divided by the Rhine River, with its Altstadt (Old Town) on the east bank and modern commercial areas to the west. Dusseldorf is a university town and a center of art and fashion. This old electoral capital is also a city of wide streets lined by elegant shops, with a ring of parks and gardens encircling its vibrant downtown area. As an important cultural center, Dusseldorf has dozens of museums and in excess of 100 art galleries encompassing everything from internationally renowned facilities, such as the impressive Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia, to the smaller installations found in the city's trendy Konigsallee area. In the Altstadt, St. Lambertus Church and Schlossturm (Castle Tower) both date to the 13th century. Dusseldorf impresses with boundary-pushing architecture, lively nightlife, and an art scene to rival many higher-profile cities. It's a posh and modern city that likes to have a good time with bar-hopping around the Altstadt, the historical quarter along the Rhine. These tourist attractions, along with the city's location on the Rhine and its numerous wide squares and wonderful riverside walkways, make it a particularly pleasant place to spend time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Munich, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Dusseldorf $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Dusseldorf is $198. 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 Dusseldorf in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Dusseldorf $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Dusseldorf $204
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Dusseldorf
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Dusseldorf? 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 Dusseldorf Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Dusseldorf $1.74
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: $66
- Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Van: $75
- Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $175
- Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
- Borovets Transfers from/to Sofia Airport: $104
- Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Van: $75
- From Bansko Transfer with Rila Monastery Visit: $128
- From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $53
- From Plovdiv Day Tour with Transfer: $71
- From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $448
- From Private Transfer to Plovdiv: $96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dusseldorf
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dusseldorf:
- Arrival Private Transfer Dusseldorf Train Station or Port by Car: $92
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Luxury Car: $86
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Dusseldorf to Airport DUS in Luxury Car: $86
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Luxury Van: $77
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Business Car: $73
- Dusseldorf Arrival Private Transfers from Airport DUS to Dusseldorf: $73
- Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) to Dusseldorf - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Dusseldorf?
Prices for flights to both Dusseldorf 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 $18Dusseldorf $82
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 Dusseldorf
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dusseldorf:
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Salami$2.13
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Nutella$1.07
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Yogurt$1.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dusseldorf
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dusseldorf.
- Culinary Flingern – The Food Tour: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Dusseldorf $27
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: $3.82
- Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.46
- Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $7.84
- Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.87
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $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
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
Tours and Activities in Dusseldorf
Here are a few actual costs in Dusseldorf for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beer tour with tasting in Dusseldorf: $34
- Best Intro Tour of Dusseldorf with a Local: $141
- City game scavenger hunt Düsseldorf - independent city tour I discovery tour: $44
- City game scavenger hunt Duisburg - independent city tour I discovery tour: $44
- Düsseldorf 2-Hour Evening Cruise: $27
- Düsseldorf Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $7.10
- Düsseldorf Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Düsseldorf Segway Rhein Tour: Rhine River Experience: $86
- Düsseldorf Segway Tour: Classical City Experience: $86
- Düsseldorf Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Düsseldorf Sightseeing round-trip Cruise: $19
- Dusseldorf : Private Walking tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Dusseldorf $25
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 Dusseldorf
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Dusseldorf are as follows:
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Night Out Drinking$27
Sample the Local Flavors in Dusseldorf
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Dusseldorf:
- Brewery Tour Düsseldorf in English (inc. 3 beer): $29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Dusseldorf, we can see that Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Dusseldorf?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Dusseldorf. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Dusseldorf, 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.