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

Should you visit Sofia or Kotor?

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 Kotor. 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 Kotor?

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.

Kotor

A coastal town of Montenegro, Kotor is also a beautifully-preserved fortified, medieval town, featuring a labyrinth of cobbled streets, lively piazzas, historic churches, and a spread of bars and restaurants throughout its historic Old Town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Luxury Tours to Montenegro, and The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Kotor or Sofia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $65, while the average daily cost in Kotor is $108. 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 Kotor in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $41
    Kotor $53
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $82
    Kotor $106
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Kotor

Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Kotor? 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 Sofia


Hotels in Kotor


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 Kotor Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.50
    Kotor $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $49
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $87
  • Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Van: $76
  • Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $54
  • From Bansko Transfer with Rila Monastery Visit: $130
  • From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $54
  • From Plovdiv Day Tour with Transfer: $72
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $455
  • From Private Transfer to Plovdiv: $98
  • From Private Transfer to Spa in Sapareva Banya: $92
  • From Rila Monastery & Melnik Day Trip with Transfers: $94
  • Private Airport Transfer from/to Sofia Bulgaria: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kotor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kotor:

  • Private Transfer from Dubrovnik to Kotor: $338
  • Podgorica Airport (TGD): Transfer to Kotor Cruise Port: $302
  • Kotor Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Podgorica hotels: $302
  • Airport Transfer Tivat / Porto Montenegro to Podgorica City: $275
  • Private Transfer from Tivat Airport (TIV) to Dubrovnik: $235
  • Private transfer from Kotor to Dubrovnik: $198
  • Private Transfer from Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik City: $196
  • Private Transfer from Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV): $196
  • Private Transfer from Kotor or Perast to Dubrovnik airport: $157
  • Private Transfer from Herceg Novi to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $156
  • Kotor to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $156
  • Airport Transfer Tivat/Porto Montenegro to Portonovi /Herceg Novi: $143

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Kotor?

Prices for flights to both Kotor 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sofia $18
    Kotor $46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

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

  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $49
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $50
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $108
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $119
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $119
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $132

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kotor

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kotor.

  • The 10 Tastings of Kotor Private Food Tour : $175
  • Kotor private cooking class with lunch and Old town guided tour: $228
  • Cooking class in a local home & old town walking tour: $310

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $6.00
    Kotor $9.06

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: $3.86
  • Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.51
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
  • Self-guided tour of Boyana Church: $7.71
  • Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.93
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • 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
  • Communist Walking Tour: $16
  • Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $16

Tours and Activities in Kotor

Here are a few actual costs in Kotor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • "Adriatic Adventure: Blue Cave & Islands Speedboat Tour": $47
  • 1-Day Montenegro Hiking Tour to Durmitor National Park : $120
  • 3 Hour Speed Boat Tour to Blue Cave with WiFi and Drinks: $44
  • 3 Hours Speed Boat tour to the Blue Cave: $44
  • 3H Guided Kotor & Cable Car Tour: $193
  • Ancient Budva & Unique St.Stephen Private Tour: $94
  • Bay of 2-Hour Stand Up Paddle Board Tour: $38
  • Bay of 2.5-Hour Kayak Tour: $38
  • Bike tour - Downhill from Njegos Mausoleum to Kotor bay: $136
  • Bike tour - Downhill from Njegos Mausoleum to Kotor bay: $121
  • Bike tour - Kotor Bay circle and visit Our Lady of the Rock: $105
  • Bike tour - Panoramic downhill from Njeguši and Kotor serpentines: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.51
    Kotor $9.26

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $60
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $66
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
  • 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $99
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
  • Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $110
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $116
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $141

Sample the Local Flavors in Kotor

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kotor:

  • Private tour: Homemade food and wine tasting at my family home: $158
  • Wine tasting and magical tour from Kotor, Budva, Tivat (Lovcen,Skadar lake): $232
  • National Parks Skadar Lake and Lovcen+Wine tasting (Private tour): $263
  • Skadar Lake National Park with Wine Tasting: $434


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Kotor, we can see that Kotor 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 Kotor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kotor 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 Kotor Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sofia or Kotor?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Kotor. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Kotor, 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.