Which place is cheaper, Belgrade or Sofia?
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 Sofia or Belgrade?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sofia and Belgrade. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Sofia or Belgrade?
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.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital city of the Republic of Serbia. Dating back to the 4th Century BC, is has seen many changes from Celtic tribes at its earliest beginnings to Roman rule, the Ottoman Empire, and Serbian independence. Relics of its past can be seen today in Belgrade's architecture and museums, while there are also a host of contemporary activities like nightlife, clubs, cafes, and concerts.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.
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Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesBelgrade Prices
Serbia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Belgrade $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Belgrade is $56. 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 Sofia and Belgrade in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Belgrade $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Belgrade $66
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Belgrade
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Belgrade? 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: Sofia Hotel Prices and Belgrade Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Belgrade $6.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $21
- Sofia Airport to Borovets Shared Transfer (Max 90 Min Wait): $28
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $41
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sofia City: $45
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia APT-HTL (SOF): $48
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia HTL-APT (SOF): $48
- Sofia City Private Transfer to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $58
- Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $58
- Korali Hot Spring with Private Transfers: $65
- Private Departure Transfer from Sunny Beach to Burgas Airport: $71
- Private Transfers from Sofia to Borovets OR Borovets to Sofia: $71
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belgrade
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belgrade:
- Serbia：Private Transfer from Belgrade to Kopaonik: $303
- Belgrade to Zlatibor private transfer by car: $274
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Vršac: $257
- From Belgrade to Timisoara Private Transfer Tour: $233
- Serbia: Shared Transfer from Belgrade to Kopaonik（Chinese）: $232
- Private Day Trip/Transfer Tour from Belgrade to Timisoara: $212
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Šabac: $194
- Private transfer from Belgrade or Belgrade Airport to Novi Sad: $184
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Sremski Karlovci: $171
- Private Transfer: Belgrade to Novi Sad and back: $167
- LUX Private transfer from Belgrade Airport: $155
- Private Airport Transfer from Belgrade to Novi Sad: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Belgrade?
Prices for flights to both Belgrade and Sofia 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 daySofia $35Belgrade $18
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belgrade
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belgrade.
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $82
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $83
- Private Serbian Food Cooking Experience in Belgrade with Meal: $83
- Private Walking and Food Tour in Belgrade: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Belgrade $4.92
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.95
- Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $8.57
- Sofia Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- City Monuments Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $12
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $12
- Sofia’s Roots: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Bulgarian Rose Aromatic Experience : $17
- Private Kayak Tour on the Pancharevo Lake: $18
- Walking tour: Communist architecture in downtown Sofia: $18
- City Highlights Sightseeing Walking Tour: $19
- Communist Walking Tour: $21
- Communist Walking Tour of Sofia: $21
Tours and Activities in Belgrade
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belgrade are as follows:
- Magic Christmas tour in Novi Sad: $218
- 1h Private photo sessions tour in Belgrade: $176
- 2000 years of walking tour across the Old City: $34
- 3 Hour Private Walking Tour in Novi Sad City: $60
- 4h Private photo sessions tour in Belgrade: $211
- Ada Lake Tour: $48
- Avala Mountain Private Tour: $79
- Avala Mountain Tour: $99
- Belgrade : Must-See Attractions Private Walking Tour: $34
- Belgrade : Old Town Walking Tour With A Guide: $32
- Belgrade Above the Waters: History Walking Tour of the City: $76
- Belgrade Big Tour: Top Attractions and Belgrade Neighborhoods: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Belgrade $23
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Belgrade
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belgrade:
- Guided Nightlife Pub Crawl: $26
- Columbo Pub Crawl Belgrade: $48
- RePlay Pub Crawl in Belgrade: $57
- Natural wine tasting with great views: $71
- Private Wine Tasting by Party in Belgrade: $77
- Belgrade Buzzin Pub Crawl: $83
- Novisad Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour: $83
- Golubac Fortress w/Iron Gate Speed Boat & Rakija Distillery tour: $89
- Belgrade Local Serbian Wine Tasting Tour: $94
- Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci Wine Tour From Belgrade: $101
- Pearl of North Serbia, trip to Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting: $106
- Novi Sad and Fruska Gora with Wine Tasting in Sremski Karlovci: $113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Belgrade, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Belgrade much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belgrade would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belgrade 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 Sofia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sofia than you might in Belgrade.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sofia Expensive? and Is Belgrade Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Belgrade?
Belgrade has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Belgrade, 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.