Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cappadocia or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia 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: Cappadocia or Sofia?
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.
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Cappadocia Prices
Turkey PricesSofia Prices
Bulgaria Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCappadocia $147Sofia $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $147, while the average daily cost in Sofia is $86. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cappadocia and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCappadocia $41Sofia $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCappadocia $82Sofia $88
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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.
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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cappadocia $40Sofia $9.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour With Transfer : $237
- Private Cappadocia Tour with Transfer and Guide: $231
- Private Transfer from Cappadocia to Antalya with Konya tour : $220
- Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cat Valley with Transfers: $179
- Private Transfer from Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) to Cappadocia Hotels: $179
- Cappadocia Private Transfer round trip NAV&ASR Airports to Hotels: $170
- Cappadocia Airport Private Transfer: $143
- Nevsehir Airport: Private Transfer to Cappadocia: $143
- Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Nevsehir City Centre Hotels: $131
- Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Goreme) Hotels: $131
- Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Cavusin) Hotels: $131
- Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Urgup) Hotels: $131
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bansko Transfer From/to Sofia Airport and Hotels: $286
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Kavala: $258
- Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko Ski Resort: $226
- Bucharest: Private Transfer to Sofia: $219
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $212
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Nis: $199
- Borovets Transfers from/to Sofia Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Pamporovo: $175
- River Rafting Adventure in Bulgaria (incl. transfer from Sofia): $171
- Private Transfer From Sofia to Bansko with Rila Monastery Visit: $143
- Private Departure Transfer from Bansko to Sofia Airport: $143
- Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv: $143
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Cappadocia 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
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Food Meals for one dayCappadocia $67Sofia $35
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
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Cookies$0.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cappadocia Turkish Night With Unlimited Drinks And Dinner: $40
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show: Dinner and Entertainment: $47
- Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks: $54
- Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks: $59
- Turkish Nights in Cappadocia Dinner & Cultural Show in a Cave: $65
- Turkish night show with dinner and unlimited free alcohol: $69
- Romantic Cappadocia Private Sunset Dinner With Wild Food : $69
- Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner : $70
- Turkish Night Show: Unlimited Alcohol, Dinner and Transfer: $70
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with dinner, unlimited alcohol: $77
- Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $78
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments: $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1980s Communism-Era Dinner with Local Host: $35
- Market Food Tour: $55
- Cooking Class in Sourdough Pancakes, Wine & Culture: $59
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $116
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $118
- Bulgarian Food tasting, cullinary-historical tour, Cooking class: $137
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cappadocia $75Sofia $6.54
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Underground City Entrance for Two$0.73
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two$14
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Horseback Riding for Two$2.78
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Cappadocia Driving Tour$2.96
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee$0.36
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Whirling Dervishes Show$2.42
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Turkish Bath$1.69
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Hot air ballooning$9.80
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Goreme open air museum$0.48
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Bellydancing Show$3.15
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
- "Cappadocia ATV Sunrise or Sunset Adventure": $50
- ATV (Quad) Tour in Cappadocia-2 Hours: $50
- Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group: $95
- Highlights of Cappadocia (Mix of Red and Green Private Tour): $169
- Highlights of Cappadocia Tour (Red Tour + Underground City): $42
- Luxury Private Green Tour in Cappadocia: $189
- North Cappadocia ( Red Tour ): $89
- Private Cappadocia Tour with Underground City (Guide & Driver): $22
- Private Full Day Guided Tour Visit to Cappadocia: $169
- Ski Tour in Cappadocia with full stuff: $173
- 1 Day Tour (Cappadocia Red Tour Museum Tickets,Lunch Inculed): $43
- 1 Hour Cappadocia ATV Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $92
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Day tour from Sofia: $125
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $101
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour: $52
- 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $123
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $70
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $69
- Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $83
- All inclusive Belogradchik fort and Venetsa cave day tour: $93
- Archaeological tour-From the Neolithic to Modern times in Augusta Trayana: $118
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $46
- Boyana Church & Rila Monastery Full-Day Private Tour: $188
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCappadocia $14Sofia $9.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Hotel Pickup and Snack: $33
- Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines: $35
- Cappadocia Wine Tasting Experience: $41
- Combo Tour with Wine Tasting and Adventure Tours: $59
- Private Wine Tasting and Day Tour w/Göreme Museum: $113
- Cappadocia Private Wine Tasting Tour : $119
- Half-Day Private Cappadocia Wine Tour Experience: $282
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $24
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $24
- Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting : $29
- Wine and Tapas - Bulgarian's Wine Tasting Experience: $29
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $36
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $46
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $46
- Wine Tasting: Bulgarian Wine Grape Varieties: $48
- From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $107
- Sofia – Kazanluk Rose Valley & Oil Distillery Tour: $115
- Plovdiv Old Town & Thracian Wine Tasting – Day Tour from Sofia: $137
- Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $173
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Sofia, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sofia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sofia 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia than you might in Sofia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia and Sofia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.