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

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Should you visit Tbilisi or Sofia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tbilisi or Sofia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Tbilisi or Sofia?

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital of the country of Georgia. Its cobblestoned old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures. Looming over it all are Narikala, a reconstructed 4th-century fortress, and Kartlis Deda, an iconic statue of the "Mother of Georgia." Tbilisi’s eternal charms of a dramatic setting in the deep valley of the swift Mtkvari River, picturesque architecture, an ever-lively arts and cultural scene, and the welcoming Georgian lifestyle have been added a whole new 21st-century dimension of inviting cafes and restaurants serving ever better food, up-to-date lodgings from backpacker hostels to international five-stars, interesting bars and clubs, spruced-up museums, galleries, parks, plazas and whole streets, modernized transport and a sprinkling of eye-catching contemporary architecture. The mix of modern and ancient elements makes Tbilisi the beating heart of the South Caucasus and it is well worth a visit.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Sofia or Tbilisi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tbilisi is $24, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $53. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tbilisi and Sofia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tbilisi $10
    Sofia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tbilisi $20
    Sofia $66
Compare Hotels in Tbilisi and Sofia

Looking for a hotel in Tbilisi or Sofia? 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 Tbilisi


Hotels in Sofia


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: Tbilisi Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tbilisi $5.04
    Sofia $6.85

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tbilisi

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

  • 3 DAYS CULTURAL TOURS-Tbilisi-Kakheti-Kazbegi with airport transfer: $693
  • 7 day Georgian Tour with Airport Transfers: $646
  • Private Transfer: Tbilisi to Tbilisi International Airport (TBS): $622
  • Private Transfer: Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) to Tbilisi: $622
  • 5 Day Georgian Tour With Airport Transfers: $390
  • Transfer to Mestia: $350
  • Transfer from Tbilisi to skiing resort Mestia: $319
  • 3 days in Georgia - private tours package from Tbilisi incl airport transfer: $282
  • 4 Days Private Tour in Georgia With Free Airport Transfers: $237
  • Transfer from Tbilisi to Erevan: $213
  • Transfer from Tbilisi airport to hotel and from hotel to airport: $203
  • Tbilisi Yerevan Transfer with English Speaking Driver: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Wheelchair Accessible Airport Transfer: $37
  • Transfers Bulgaria: $75
  • Transfers: $106
  • Transfer to Bucharest from Sofia: $149
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport T1 to Bansko: $116
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $27
  • Bansko Shuttle Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $49
  • Airport Shuttle Transfer to Borovets: $19
  • Sofia to Sunny Beach Passenger Transfer: $263
  • Sofia to Stara Zagora Passenger Transfer: $151
  • Sofia to Sozopol Passenger Transfer: $263
  • Sofia to Plovdiv Passenger Transfer: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Tbilisi or Sofia?

Prices for flights to both Sofia and Tbilisi 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
    Tbilisi $6.52
    Sofia $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tbilisi

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

  • Adjarian Khachapuri Making Private Online Cooking Class: $27
  • Traveling Spoon Georgian Dumplings Private Online Cooking Class: $27
  • Dinner in a Georgian family plus a cooking master class: $44
  • From Food and Drink Tasting with Cooking Classes: $49
  • Private Cooking Class with a Georgian Grandmother in Tbilisi: $62
  • Private Cooking Class with a Tbilisi Food and City Expert: $62
  • Enjoy a Traditional Georgian Cooking Class and Meal with a Local in Tbilisi: $70
  • Authentic Georgian Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Mother-Daughter Duo in Tbilisi: $71
  • Join a Local for a Market Tour, Cooking Class and Meal in her Tbilisi Home: $82
  • Georgian Genuine Wine And Food Tour with Eqskursion in kakheti Region: $90
  • Private Authentic Georgian Cooking Class with Cookbook Authors in Tbilisi: $110
  • Kazbegi Adventure - Private Day Trip From Tbilisi with a Dinner + Masterclass: $121

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

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

  • Online Traditional Bulgarian Cooking Class: $36
  • Market Food Tour: $44
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore Show & Dinner: $73
  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $74
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $75
  • Private Bulgarian Cooking Class in Sofia with a Local with Hotel Transfers: $92
  • Private Traditional Bulgarian Cooking in Central Sofia: $98
  • Hiking The Seven Rila Lakes with option for dinner: $111
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $114
  • Market Visit and Private Bulgarian Cooking Class in Sofia with Hotel Transfers: $117
  • Private Sofia Evening Tour with Folklore Dinner: $137
  • 6-Hour Historic Tour, Dinner, and Folklore Show: $256

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tbilisi $12
    Sofia $4.84

Tours and Activities in Tbilisi

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

  • 'Uplistsikhe'-Borjomi 1 Day Tour: $51
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour at Didgori Monument (Tbilisi, Georgia): $128
  • 1 Day Kakheti Private Tour: $36
  • 1 Day Mtskheta-Uplistsikhe private Tour: $36
  • 1 Day Tour In Shiny Mountains of Kazbegi: $161
  • 1 Day Tour, Tbilisi- Mtskheta: $32
  • 1 Day Tour, of Amazing Kakheti: $51
  • 1 Full Day Kakheti Private tour: $54
  • 1 day Gudauri and Kazbegi private tour-By Travel master (Georgia): $179
  • 1-Day Kazbegi Private tour: $36
  • 10 Day Tour of Armenia and Georgia - Guaranteed Departure: $1,795
  • 10 Dayes Explore Georgia Tour: $1,397

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • 10 Days Bulgaria Round Tour - Urban & Sea Experience: $895
  • 11 Days Bulgaria Round Tour - Stunning Big Voyage: $932
  • 12 days Balkans Guided Tour from Sofia to Budapest: $2,488
  • 17days Balkans Tour from Sofia to Bucharest: $3,484
  • 2 Day Private Adventure Tour in Vitosha mountain from Sofia: $288
  • 21 Days Small Group Balkans Tour from Sofia: $4,354
  • 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $93
  • 3-Day Bulgaria Private Mountain Biking Tour from Sofia: $438
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $56
  • 4 Balkan Countries and 3 Nights Cruise in Greek Islands from Sofia: $2,725
  • 4 Days Natural and Historical Wonders of the Rhodope mountain Motorcyle tour: $695
  • 5 Days Guided Motorcycle Tour Wine, Nature and Traditions: $621

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tbilisi $15
    Sofia $6.86

Sample the Local Flavors in Tbilisi

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tbilisi:

  • Online Wine Tour,all about Georgian Qvevri&wine making method.Soon In real life!: $9.00
  • ツ ✌ Tbilisi Walking Tour - City Sightseeings! Cable Car, Wine Tasting: $10
  • Wine tasting tour in Kakheti region: $31
  • Private Tbilisi Walking Tour including Cable Car, Wine Tasting and Old Bakery: $33
  • Group Wine Tour to Kakheti: $34
  • Wine tour to Kakheti: $35
  • Wine tour of Tbilisi: $36
  • Kakheti: Signagi, Bodbe Monastery, Wine Tour. Private tour: $37
  • Kakheti Wine Tour, Кахетия -Винный Тур: $37
  • Culinary & Wine tour in Kakheti region: $43
  • Signagi-Bodbe Kakheti Wine Tour: $43
  • Culinary and Wine Tour in Tbilisi: $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $19
  • Tipsy Pub Crawl Sofia: $23
  • An amazing 3 hours of painting and wine tasting: $35
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $42
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $47
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $60
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $75
  • Rila monastery- Wine tasting - Boyana church: $75
  • Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Day Trip with Wine Tasting from Sofia: $81
  • Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $81
  • Plovdiv, day tour from Sofia and Wine tasting: $87
  • Private Food and Wine Tour - Sofia: $91

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tbilisi and Sofia, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Tbilisi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tbilisi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi.

Budget Your Trip

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Tbilisi vs. Sofia Travel Comparison

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