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

Should you visit Sofia or New Orleans?

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 New Orleans. 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 New Orleans?

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.

New Orleans

New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.

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 United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, New Orleans 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 New Orleans is $239. 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 New Orleans in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $41
    New Orleans $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $82
    New Orleans $250
Compare Hotels in Sofia and New Orleans

Looking for a hotel in Sofia or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans


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 New Orleans Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.47
    New Orleans $51

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 New Orleans

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans

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

  • 25 Passenger New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $300
  • One-Way Private New Orleans Arrival or Departure Transfer: $275
  • Handicap New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $260
  • Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $215
  • Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise: $210
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY): Private Transfer to New Orleans: $209
  • New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport MSY Round-Trip Private Transfer: $206
  • New Orleans Airport One way Transfer to Baton Rouge or Slidell: $200
  • 11 Passenger Executive Van: New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $197
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Round-Trip Transfer : $164
  • Private Transfer From New Orleans To Baton Rouge: $157
  • Full-Day Whitney Plantation & Large Airboat Swamp Tour w/Transfer: $155

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or New Orleans?

Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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
    New Orleans $45

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans

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

  • Cajun and Creole Cooking Class with Meal: $38
  • New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
  • Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $55
  • Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner: $55
  • Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $55
  • French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Flavors of New Orleans: $59
  • The Premier New Orleans Food Tour: $77
  • Taste Of New Orleans Food Tour and Experience: $80
  • Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
  • French Quarter Food Tour with Tastings: $89
  • New Orleans' Lower Garden Food Tour: $89
  • Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $5.98
    New Orleans $55

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)
    $75
  • Riverboat Cruise
    $70
  • French Quarter City Tour
    $100

Tours and Activities in New Orleans

For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bom Creole Dining Experience w/ Pool and Louisiana Native Chef : $135
  • Creole French Quarter Walking Tour: $30
  • Walking Instagram Photo Tour in the French Quarter New Orleans: $27
  • 2-Hour Guided French Quarter Vampire Walking Tour: $25
  • 45 Minute Highlights Tour of the French Quarter: $23
  • 90-Minute Jean Lafitte Swamp and Bayou Tour with Transportation: $57
  • A Local's Private French Quarter Walking or Biking Tour : $175
  • Adults-Only History, Ghost, Vampire, and Voodoo Walking Tour: $30
  • Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour: $37
  • Airboat Tour of Louisiana Swamps: $130
  • Audio-Guided Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation: $90
  • Automated Historical Ghost Bus Tour of New Orleans: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.48
    New Orleans $60

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

Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:

  • Haunted Pub Crawl In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $13
  • Guided Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $15
  • Guided Distillery Tour & Rum Tasting: $15
  • New Orleans Distillery Tour and Rum Tasting with Guide: $15
  • Private New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $15
  • Spooky Ghost and Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $17
  • New Orleans Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of The Irish Channel: $25
  • Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $26
  • Adults Only True Crime Pub Crawl: $27
  • New Orleans Bar Crawl: $28
  • True Crime Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $30
  • Haunted Pub Crawl: $30


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


Which is Bigger, Sofia or New Orleans?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and New Orleans, 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.