Which place is cheaper, Valletta or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Valletta?
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 Valletta. 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 Valletta?
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.
Valletta
A harbor city and the capital city of the island of Malta, Valletta dates back to the 16th-century with a preserved architectural heritage that earned the city a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is best known for its museums, palaces, and churches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Historical Tours in Malta, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $64Valletta $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Valletta is $124. 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 Valletta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $40Valletta $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $80Valletta $140
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Valletta
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Valletta? 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 Valletta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.38Valletta $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $186
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia HTL-APT (SOF): $48
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $66
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $194
- Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $191
- Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $83
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $195
- Transfer from Sofia Airport T1 to Bansko: $102
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $687
- Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valletta
Also for Valletta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Malta Highlights Tour with Transfer: $150
- Private Airport Transfer from Malta to Gozo: $109
- Airport Transfers (Private Group up to 15 people): $103
- From Malta: Gozo Jeep Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $87
- Private Airport Transfer in Malta: $87
- Turkish Gullet Cruise to Gozo and Comino with Lunch and Transfers: $81
- Airport transfers to all locations in Malta (Private Groups or Families): $81
- Mdina and Highlights of Malta Full Day Guided Tour Incl. Lunch and Transfers: $66
- Malta Airport Private Transfers: $66
- Malta Private Transfer from Malta Airport to any resort in Malta island: $51
- Arrival Transfer: Malta Airport MLA to Malta Island by Van: $49
- Malta Airport (MLA) Departure Transfer (Saint Julian's Hotels to Malta Airport): $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Valletta?
Prices for flights to both Valletta 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 $18Valletta $35
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
- 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: $106
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $108
- 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: $131
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valletta
For Valletta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Valletta Food Tour - Eat like a local: $46
- Valletta Food Tour: $49
- Folklore Evening Dinner Show at a Traditional Maltese Restaurant Incl. Transfers: $67
- Maltese Traditional Dinner and Folklore Show with Transfers: $71
- Fireworks Festival Cruise Including Dinner, Drinks and Transport: $76
- The Ultimate Valletta Evening Food Tour: $80
- Fernandes Sunset Cruise including Dinner with Open Bar: $80
- Christmas Tour in Gozo (afternoon) inc. Dinner: $86
- Blue Lagoon & Sunset Quad Tour in Gozo/Dinner: $91
- From Blue Lagoon and Gozo Tour w/Quads and Dinner: $118
- The Valletta Food Tour Experience, a private tour: $150
- Private Valletta Food Tour: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.92Valletta $29
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: $98
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $109
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
- 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: $98
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $108
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Tours and Activities in Valletta
For Valletta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Cities Tour: $16
- 3 Hours Private Picnic Experience in Malta: $273
- 3 cities: Private Insider Walking Tour with Licensed Guide: $160
- 30-Minute Mdina Experience Audio-Visual Show Ticket (Open Ticket): $6.55
- 4-hr day tour around Malta: $207
- 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Pass Bus + Harbour Cruise: $55
- 90 minutes Harbour Cruise in Valletta - ticket only: $22
- A Monumental Maltese Experience: $175
- Adventures in Malta: Thrills, History, and Natural Beauty: $320
- Best of Mdina and Rabat Walking Tour: $20
- Best of Valletta Walking Tour: $20
- Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk Half-Day Tour from Valletta: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.39Valletta $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: $75
- From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $139
Sample the Local Flavors in Valletta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Valletta:
- Valletta Pub Crawl: $22
- Malta Pub Crawl: $22
- The Brewery Experience & beer tasting including transport: $35
- The Brewery Experience Self-Guided Tour with Tasting & Transport: $35
- Malta: The Three Cities and Wine Tasting Tour: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Valletta, we can see that Valletta 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 Valletta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valletta 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 Valletta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Valletta?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Valletta, 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.