Cost of living in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 26% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States)
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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 475 prices entered by 49 different people.
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Currency:
| Food | - 19% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 19% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 20 лв ($11) | $14 | - 22% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 11 лв ($6) | $8 | - 17% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв ($4.79) | $4.70 | + 2% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.23 лв ($1.80) | $0.91 | + 99% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 7 лв ($3.81) | $2.33 | + 64% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.79 лв ($2.67) | - | - | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 12 лв ($7) | - | - | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.22 лв ($1.24) | - | - | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 1.79 лв ($1.00) | $1.59 | - 37% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 1.77 лв ($0.98) | $2.40 | - 59% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 15 лв ($9) | $14 | - 41% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.88 лв ($1.61) | $1.84 | - 13% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.58 лв ($0.88) | $2.26 | - 61% | |
| Housing | - 57% | |||
| Housing in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 57% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,261 лв ($703) | $1,810 | - 61% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 745 лв ($415) | $1,036 | - 60% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 244 лв ($136) | $122 | + 11% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 829 лв ($462) | $1,075 | - 57% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 588 лв ($328) | $753 | - 57% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 136 лв ($76) | $127 | - 40% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 16 лв ($9) | $48 | - 82% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 596 лв ($332) | $444 | - 25% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 247 лв ($137) | $84 | + 65% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 26 лв ($15) | $11 | + 35% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 12 лв ($6) | $25 | - 74% | |
| Clothes | - 3% | |||
| Clothes in Sofia (Bulgaria) is about the same as in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 111 лв ($62) | - | - | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 64 лв ($36) | - | - | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 179 лв ($100) | $96 | + 4% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 134 лв ($75) | $110 | - 32% | |
| Transportation | + 7% | |||
| Transportation in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 7% more expensive than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 47,614 лв ($26,535) | - | - | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 3.04 лв ($1.69) | $0.78 | + 118% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 58 лв ($32) | - | - | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 14 лв ($8) | $17 | - 52% | |
| Personal Care | - 5% | |||
| Personal Care in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 5% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 13 лв ($7) | - | - | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 20 лв ($11) | - | - | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 47 лв ($26) | - | - | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 11 лв ($6) | - | - | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 5.49 лв ($3.06) | $3.01 | + 2% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 11 лв ($6) | - | - | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.14 лв ($1.75) | - | - | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 5.38 лв ($3.00) | - | - | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 22 лв ($12) | $23 | - 47% | |
| Entertainment | - 26% | |||
| Entertainment in Sofia (Bulgaria) is 26% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Sofia | Iowa City, Iowa | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 47 лв ($26) | $40 | - 35% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 26 лв ($15) | $20 | - 28% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 70 лв ($39) | $110 | - 65% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 76 лв ($42) | $92 | - 54% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 13 лв ($7) | $7 | - 5% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 4.53 лв ($2.52) | $4.01 | - 37% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.67 лв ($2.60) | $4.44 | - 41% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,244 лв ($693) | $424 | + 64% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.36 лв ($0.20) | - | - | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 62 лв ($34) | $51 | - 32% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 6 лв ($3.38) | $7 | - 55% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 26% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 475 prices entered by 49 different people.
These prices were last updated on February 03, 2023.
Exchange rate:
0.557
USD
/
BGN
Detailed prices for each city individually
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For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require $5,300 in Iowa City, Iowa you would need to make just about $3,920 (7,035 лв) in Sofia.
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