Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 47% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
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This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 733 prices entered by 169 different people.
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Currency:
| Food | - 15% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 15% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 18 лв (Dirham 37) | Dirham 45 | - 16% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (Dirham 33) | Dirham 34 | - 2% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (Dirham 19) | Dirham 17 | + 8% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.37 лв (Dirham 7) | Dirham 7 | + 9% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (Dirham 16) | Dirham 12 | + 30% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.27 лв (Dirham 9) | Dirham 6 | + 44% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (Dirham 22) | Dirham 17 | + 26% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.63 лв (Dirham 5.62) | Dirham 9 | - 37% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.16 лв (Dirham 4.61) | Dirham 4.48 | + 3% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.05 лв (Dirham 4.38) | Dirham 10 | - 54% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 17 лв (Dirham 36) | Dirham 59 | - 40% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.75 лв (Dirham 5.88) | Dirham 8 | - 27% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.04 лв (Dirham 2.22) | Dirham 5.13 | - 57% | |
| Housing | - 71% | |||
| Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 71% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,621 лв (Dirham 3,462) | Dirham 14,724 | - 76% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 1,113 лв (Dirham 2,377) | Dirham 9,417 | - 75% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 279 лв (Dirham 595) | Dirham 829 | - 28% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,050 лв (Dirham 2,243) | Dirham 8,201 | - 73% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 739 лв (Dirham 1,577) | Dirham 5,341 | - 70% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 160 лв (Dirham 342) | Dirham 622 | - 45% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (Dirham 36) | Dirham 336 | - 89% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 686 лв (Dirham 1,465) | Dirham 770 | + 90% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 218 лв (Dirham 465) | Dirham 296 | + 57% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29 лв (Dirham 62) | Dirham 41 | + 54% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 22 лв (Dirham 46) | Dirham 31 | + 50% | |
| Clothes | - 21% | |||
| Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 21% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 100 лв (Dirham 214) | Dirham 251 | - 15% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 72 лв (Dirham 154) | Dirham 220 | - 30% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 212 лв (Dirham 452) | Dirham 399 | + 13% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 114 лв (Dirham 243) | Dirham 408 | - 41% | |
| Transportation | - 43% | |||
| Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 43% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 50,072 лв (Dirham 106,910) | Dirham 92,536 | + 16% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.64 лв (Dirham 5.64) | Dirham 2.88 | + 96% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 45 лв (Dirham 95) | Dirham 303 | - 69% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв (Dirham 31) | Dirham 37 | - 16% | |
| Personal Care | - 17% | |||
| Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 17% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (Dirham 31) | Dirham 25 | + 26% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (Dirham 52) | Dirham 38 | + 39% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 74 лв (Dirham 158) | Dirham 284 | - 44% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 10 лв (Dirham 21) | Dirham 21 | - 1% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 7 лв (Dirham 14) | Dirham 19 | - 27% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5.79 лв (Dirham 12) | Dirham 21 | - 41% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.49 лв (Dirham 7) | Dirham 10 | - 22% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 4.78 лв (Dirham 10) | Dirham 13 | - 19% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 24 лв (Dirham 51) | Dirham 40 | + 27% | |
| Entertainment | - 32% | |||
| Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 32% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Dubai | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 54 лв (Dirham 114) | Dirham 147 | - 22% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв (Dirham 56) | Dirham 98 | - 42% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 54 лв (Dirham 115) | Dirham 283 | - 59% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 106 лв (Dirham 226) | Dirham 275 | - 18% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв (Dirham 28) | Dirham 75 | - 63% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.15 лв (Dirham 11) | Dirham 22 | - 49% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.27 лв (Dirham 9) | Dirham 45 | - 80% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,222 лв (Dirham 2,610) | Dirham 1,999 | + 31% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.27 лв (Dirham 0.57) | Dirham 0.56 | + 1% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв (Dirham 133) | Dirham 318 | - 58% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (Dirham 17) | Dirham 22 | - 24% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 47% | ||
These prices were last updated on April 27, 2025.
Exchange rate:
2.135
AED
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 733 prices entered by 169 different people.
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