Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 37% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom)
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WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 732 prices entered by 84 different people.
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| Food | - 8% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 8% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 24 лв (£10) | £11 | - 5% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 15 лв (£7) | £6 | + 11% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 10 лв (£4.44) | £3.77 | + 18% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.17 лв (£1.39) | £1.10 | + 27% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (£3.31) | £3.44 | - 4% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.89 лв (£2.15) | £2.05 | + 5% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (£4.46) | £3.39 | + 31% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.24 лв (£0.99) | £2.03 | - 52% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 1.88 лв (£0.83) | £0.87 | - 5% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 1.97 лв (£0.87) | £1.81 | - 52% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 14 лв (£6) | £8 | - 24% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.66 лв (£1.17) | £2.04 | - 43% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.79 лв (£0.79) | £0.91 | - 13% | |
| Housing | - 54% | |||
| Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 54% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,242 лв (£546) | £1,574 | - 65% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 777 лв (£342) | £1,037 | - 67% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 293 лв (£129) | £272 | - 53% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 820 лв (£360) | £852 | - 58% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 578 лв (£254) | £725 | - 65% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 139 лв (£61) | £105 | - 42% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 18 лв (£8) | £27 | - 71% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 861 лв (£379) | £347 | + 9% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 223 лв (£98) | £102 | - 3% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 25 лв (£11) | £7 | + 52% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 39 лв (£17) | £13 | + 34% | |
| Clothes | - 1% | |||
| Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 126 лв (£56) | £63 | - 12% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 61 лв (£27) | £28 | - 4% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 217 лв (£96) | £67 | + 42% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 124 лв (£55) | £62 | - 12% | |
| Transportation | - 48% | |||
| Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 48% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 41,687 лв (£18,333) | £24,000 | - 24% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.55 лв (£1.12) | £1.53 | - 27% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 56 лв (£25) | £64 | - 61% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 19 лв (£8) | £13 | - 38% | |
| Personal Care | - 25% | |||
| Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 25% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (£7) | £7 | - 0% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 31 лв (£13) | £8 | + 77% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 32 лв (£14) | £100 | - 86% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 11 лв (£4.93) | £3.66 | + 35% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв (£2.79) | £1.98 | + 41% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 8 лв (£3.63) | £3.40 | + 7% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.11 лв (£1.37) | £1.99 | - 31% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 5.85 лв (£2.57) | £1.92 | + 34% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 20 лв (£9) | £13 | - 35% | |
| Entertainment | - 24% | |||
| Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 24% cheaper than in Birmingham (United Kingdom) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Birmingham | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 49 лв (£22) | £23 | - 4% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв (£12) | £18 | - 36% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 51 лв (£23) | £93 | - 76% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 88 лв (£39) | £49 | - 21% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (£5.82) | £8 | - 29% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 4.27 лв (£1.88) | £3.15 | - 40% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 3.73 лв (£1.64) | £4.04 | - 59% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,351 лв (£594) | £444 | + 34% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.38 лв (£0.17) | £0.19 | - 9% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 48 лв (£21) | £31 | - 32% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (£3.58) | £12 | - 71% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 37% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 732 prices entered by 84 different people.
These prices were last updated on June 03, 2023.
Exchange rate:
0.43979
GBP
/
BGN
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For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require £4,500 in Birmingham you would need to make just about £2,851 (6,483 лв) in Sofia.
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