Sofia is the most expensive of Bulgaria's 5 priced cities — $1,301 a month in essentials, 71% above Ruse at $761. The average net salary of $1,707 covers that 1.3×. 104.4 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at oblast level. PM2.5 averages 16.1 µg/m³ a year, 3× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 1°C, Jul 22°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $602 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $787 |
| Groceries | $152 |
| Dining out | $342 |
| Utilities | $176 |
| Local transport | $29 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,301 |
| Avg net salary | $1,707 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,058 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $1,541 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Sofia, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $17.09 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $56.95 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $11.39 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $3.54 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.42 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $4.56 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $2.42 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $1.85 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.98 |
| White bread, 500 g | $1.61 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $2.31 |
| Eggs, 12 | $4.34 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $11.85 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $9.01 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.07 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $2.02 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $4.33 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $1.12 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $0.90 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.81 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $0.91 |
| Monthly transit pass | $29.05 |
| Taxi start | $1.81 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.98 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.71 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $161.17 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $15.10 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $21.06 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $46.17 |
| Cinema, one seat | $11.11 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Sofia has 104.4 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (oblast level). That is the 3rd-highest of 6 Bulgaria cities we track. Bulgaria's national figure is 105.4, so Sofia runs 1 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.7°C | -2.7°C | 80% | 62% | 57 mm |
| Feb | 4.4°C | 1.2°C | 74% | 59% | 41 mm |
| Mar | 7°C | 4°C | 71% | 60% | 66 mm |
| Apr | 11.5°C | 9.3°C | 67% | 54% | 55 mm |
| May | 15.8°C | 15.1°C | 74% | 61% | 68 mm |
| Jun | 20°C | 21°C | 74% | 53% | 82 mm |
| Jul | 22.4°C | 23.7°C | 68% | 32% | 44 mm |
| Aug | 22.3°C | 23.1°C | 66% | 32% | 32 mm |
| Sep | 18°C | 17.5°C | 68% | 45% | 31 mm |
| Oct | 12.4°C | 10.9°C | 75% | 48% | 41 mm |
| Nov | 7.3°C | 5°C | 82% | 63% | 49 mm |
| Dec | 3.2°C | 0.2°C | 83% | 63% | 50 mm |
Need the full Bulgaria model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock Bulgaria deep-dive