Which place is cheaper, Novi Sad or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Novi Sad?
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 Novi Sad. 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 Novi Sad?
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.
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital city of Vojvodina, the northern Autonomous Province of Serbia. Novi Sad has a population of about 400,000 people and is located on the Danube River near Budapest and Belgrade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Novi Sad $20
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Novi Sad is $20. 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 Novi Sad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Novi Sad $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Novi Sad $22
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Novi Sad
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Novi Sad? 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 Novi Sad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Novi Sad -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Private Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport (SOF): $46
- Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $48
- Sofia Airport Transfers: $49
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $53
- Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $53
- Private Transfer from/to Sofia Airport : $53
- Sofia City Private Transfer to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $53
- Private Transfer from Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Business Car: $53
- From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $53
- Private Airport Transfer from/to Sofia Bulgaria: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novi Sad
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novi Sad:
- Belgrade to Sarajevo via Novi Sad Private Transfer Tour: $286
- Airport transfer from/to Novi Sad: $107
- Belgrade airport transfers: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Novi Sad?
Prices for flights to both Novi Sad 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 $18Novi Sad $8.20
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: $96
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Novi Sad -
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $7.86
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $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
- Self-Guided Tour in Sofia: $15
- Private Kayak Tour on the Pancharevo Lake: $16
- Communist Walking Tour: $18
- Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $18
Tours and Activities in Novi Sad
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Novi Sad are as follows:
- From Belgrade: Novi Sad and Fruska Gora National Park Tour: $320
- Fruska Gora and Novi Sad Heritage & Gastro Private Tour: $170
- Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci shared tour: $64
- Novi Sad Private Walking Tour: $253
- Novi Sad city center and Petrovaradin fortress tour: $80
- 2-Hour Christmas Walking Tour: $767
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Local Guide: $510
- Private Customized Tour with a car: $208
- Private Romantic Tour: $511
- The city center and fortress Private Walking Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Novi Sad -
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: $19
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $53
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
- 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $86
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $114
- Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $119
Sample the Local Flavors in Novi Sad
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Novi Sad:
- From Belgrade: Sremski Karlovci & Novi Sad with Wine Tasting: $80
- From Belgrade or Private Wine Tour in Fruska Gora: $184
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Novi Sad, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Novi Sad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novi Sad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novi Sad 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 Sofia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sofia than you might in Novi Sad.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sofia Expensive? and Is Novi Sad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Novi Sad?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Novi Sad. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Novi Sad, 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.