Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sofia or Melbourne?
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 Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $65Melbourne $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $65, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $179. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $41Melbourne $120
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $82Melbourne $240
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.47Melbourne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $66
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $195
- Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $192
- Transfer from Sofia to Burgas: $269
- Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $83
- Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $132
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $196
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $692
- Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $54
- Private transfer: Sofia Airport (SOF) to Sofia: $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
-
Airport Bus$11
-
Tram Ride$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $958
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $321
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Southbank: $215
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $208
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $201
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $188
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Car: $188
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $179
- Melbourne Hotel to Airport Private Departure Transfer 12 seater mini bus: $167
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $167
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 daySofia $18Melbourne $31
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
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $107
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $118
- 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: $132
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee$2.64
-
Pizza$4.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $87
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
- Pizza Making Party: $100
- Secret Food Tours Melbourne: $107
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $124
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.98Melbourne $28
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: $120
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $110
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $87
- 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: $99
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $109
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mandarin Melbourne Walking Tour: $17
- 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $126
- 1-hour Yarra River Historical Cruise Tour: $25
- 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
- 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Eco Tour with lunch from Melbourne: $109
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $810
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
- 2024 Mt Buller, Melbourne Snow and Sightseeing Day Tour: $92
- 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
- 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,504
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Melbourne Guide : $171
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.48Melbourne $17
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: $76
- 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $120
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $140
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
-
Bottle of Wine$5.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $87
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $102
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $140
- Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sofia is in Europe and Melbourne is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Melbourne, 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.