Which place is cheaper, Maribor or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Maribor?
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 Maribor. 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 Maribor?
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.
Maribor
Located near the Austrian border is Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia. Maribor is surrounded by hills that are filled with wine vineyards, as well as the Mariborsko Pohorje mountain. The city is split in half by the Drava River. On the left bank of the river you'll find the city's old town.
The city draws tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy the world renowned wine, old town culture, and outdoor activities which include hiking and skiing. The city is a great jumping off point for many outdoor activities and for those hoping to see the countryside. If you're more the city type, Maribor also has plenty to offer. Head to the theater for a show, sip some wine in a town square, or soak in the beauty of a cathedral while you're in the area.
Maribor's climate is humid continental with warm summers and cold winters. During the winter months the average temperature hovers around freezing. The warmest month is July, when average temperatures often exceed 20 degrees Celsius. Maribor is also one of the sunniest cities in Slovenia.
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 in Slovenia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Slovenia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Maribor $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Maribor is $82. 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 Maribor in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Maribor $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Maribor $94
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Maribor
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Maribor? 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 Maribor Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Maribor $9.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $48
- Airport Transfers in Bulgaria: $65
- Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $86
- Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Van: $75
- Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $53
- Borovets Transfers from/to Sofia Airport: $103
- Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Car: $86
- 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: $446
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Maribor
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Maribor:
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Gondola (for 2)$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Maribor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Maribor:
- Private Transfer from Maribor to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $251
- Private transfer from Maribor to Ljubljana city: $249
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Maribor?
Prices for flights to both Maribor 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 $18Maribor $28
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: $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: $105
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $107
- Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $117
- Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $117
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $130
Typical Food Prices in Maribor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Maribor:
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Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$26
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Gostilnica Navogalu Cafe Lunch$8.12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Maribor $9.29
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.42
- Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery: $6.50
- Self-guided tour of Boyana Church: $7.59
- Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.66
- Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.81
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Maribor $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $19
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $53
- 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: $106
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $114
- Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $119
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $138
- Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia - Lunch, Wine Tasting & The Unique Stob Pyramids: $139
Typical Alcohol Prices in Maribor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Maribor:
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Maribor, we can see that Maribor 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 Maribor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Maribor 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 Maribor Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Maribor?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Maribor. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Maribor, 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.