Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Kos?
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 Kos or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Sofia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kos or Sofia?
Kos
Kos is a Greek island and third largest island of the Dodecanese group, located near the Turkish coast in the southeast Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which make it a popular tourist destination, as well as its ancient Greek and Roman landmarks.
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 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.
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Kos Prices
Greece PricesSofia Prices
Bulgaria Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKos €165Sofia €73
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €165, while the average daily cost in Sofia is €73. 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 Kos and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKos €62Sofia €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKos €124Sofia €76
Compare Hotels in Kos and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Kos 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: Kos Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kos €37Sofia €7.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kos transfer services, Kos - Airport - Kos: $118
- Kos Private Airport and Hotel Transfer : $78
- Private arrival Transfer from Kos Airport to any resort in the island: $76
- Arrival transfer from Kos Airport : $74
- From Kalymnos Self-Guided Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $68
- Kos - Airport Private Transfer: $66
- Kos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer: $65
- Artemis Hamam and Spa with Hotel Transfers Kos Island: $60
- A Day's 3-Island Cruise Tour with Transfer: $54
- Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise & Optional Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Kos Resorts to Kos Airport: $33
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to Mount Zia for Sunset Viewing: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia HTL-APT (SOF): $48
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia APT-HTL (SOF): $48
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $71
- Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $212
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $21
- Transfer Sofia Airport/city to Plovdiv with a sedan 3+1: $113
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $41
- Sofia City Private Transfer to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $58
- Sofia Airport to Borovets Shared Transfer (Max 90 Min Wait): $28
- Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $58
- Sofia Airport (LBSF): One-Way Transfer to/from Borovets: $104
- River Rafting Adventure in Bulgaria (incl. transfer from Sofia): $171
Is it cheaper to fly into Kos or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Kos 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 dayKos €75Sofia €30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kos
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Cruise with Swimming and BBQ Dinner: $65
- Kos Greek Night with Transfer Dinner and Unlimited Wine: $66
- Kefalos Sunset Cruise from Kos with Dinner: $67
- Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine: $88
- Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $111
- Kos 4x4 Sunset Adventure with dinner: $113
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.Kos €33Sofia €5.56
Tours and Activities in Kos
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Island Cruise Tour in Kos Island with Personalized Audio Guide: $31
- 3 Island Luxury Cruise with 4 Swimming Stops with Captain Morgan: $38
- Barco De Pirata Cruise at 3 Islands in Greece : $30
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach: $24
- Explore Nisyros Island with Hotel Pick Up and Guided Tour: $47
- Flying Dress Photoshoot Experience in Kos Kardamaina : $214
- From 3-Island Pirate Cruise with Lunch and Waterslide: $29
- From Pserimos Island Snorkeling Cruise by Diving Boat: $59
- From Zia Sunset Tour: $29
- From Kos:A full day cruise in the newest luxury vessel!: $35
- From the Port of Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands: $35
- Full Day 3-Island Boat Cruise from Port of Kos: $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 dayKos €19Sofia €7.87
Sample the Local Flavors in Kos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
- Sip and Savor Boutique Wine Tasting Experience: $66
- Guided Tour of Kos Town Asclepeion and Zia with Wine Tasting: $99
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 Kos and Sofia, we can see that Kos 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 Kos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kos 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 Kos Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kos or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos 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.