Which place is cheaper, Bratislava 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 Bratislava?
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 Bratislava. 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 Bratislava?
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.
Bratislava
The capital and largest city of Slovakia, Bratislava is set on the shores of the Danube River near the borders of Austria and Hungary. While the city is skirted by mountains and vineyards, its 18th century old town center is crossed with cobbled walkways and surrounded by historic landmarks and architecture. One such monument is the Bratislava Castle, set atop a hill overlooking it all-the old town, the river, and the bustle of people in the charming city below.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Slovakia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Slovakia.
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Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesBratislava Prices
Slovakia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Bratislava $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Bratislava is $182. 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 Bratislava in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Bratislava $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Bratislava $116
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Bratislava
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Bratislava? 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 Bratislava Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Bratislava $30
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 Bratislava
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bratislava:
- Budapest: Transfer to Prague via scenic Bratislava: $237
- Private Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest with 2h of Sightseeing: $220
- Bratislava - Budapest Transfer: $209
- Private Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest, English-speaking driver: $208
- Bratislava Airport (BTS) to Piestany - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $167
- Private Transfer from Bratislava to Vienna City : $165
- Bratislava Airport (BTS) to Bojnice - Arrival Private Transfer: $142
- Private Transfer From Bratislava To Vienna Airport, 2 Hour Stop: $120
- Luxury Transfer from Bratislava to Vienna or Vienna Airport: $119
- Private Direct Transfer From Bratislava to Vienna City Center: $95
- Bratislava Airport Transfer with Private Driver to City: $70
- Airport to Hotel Private Transfer Service: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Bratislava?
Prices for flights to both Bratislava 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 $35Bratislava $92
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 Bratislava
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bratislava.
- Bratislava Christmas Market Food Tour: $83
- Gourmet Goose Dinner with Cruise on Danube: $88
- Bratislava Traditional Wine and Food Tour: $101
- Vegan Bratislava Food Tour: $113
- Local Beer & Food Tour: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Bratislava $35
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 Bratislava
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bratislava are as follows:
- Magic Christmas tour in Komarno: $255
- 2 Hour Sightseeing Tour of Bratislava: $49
- 2H Private Tour with Jakub: $54
- Beer Factory Tour with Beer Tasting in Banska Bystrica: $173
- Big Castle Tour in Bratislava by Presporacik Sightseeing Vehicle: $19
- Bratislava - Bike Tour: $70
- Bratislava - Top Sights Guided Tour: $93
- Bratislava Beer Running Tour: $77
- Bratislava Bites: Private Food & Walking Tour: $274
- Bratislava Card with Public Transport Option & Walking Tour: $32
- Bratislava Christmas Market Tour with A Local Guide: $76
- Bratislava City & Castle Walking Tour with Sebastian in English: $3.56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Bratislava $22
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 Bratislava
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bratislava:
- Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $8.11
- Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $8.21
- Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $18
- Wine Tasting in city center: $18
- Bratislava Wine Tasting in City Center: $18
- Wine Tasting Experience in the Dark: $27
- Wine Tasting IN THE DARK!: $27
- Private Pub Crawl with Free Beer and Shots: $35
- Pub Crawl with VIP Entry, Free Shots & Beer: $35
- Bratislava Pub Crawl with Free Welcome Shots: $36
- Slovakian Wine Tasting Experience: $65
- Half-Day Tour with Organic Wine Tasting in Bratislava: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Bratislava, we can see that Bratislava 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 Bratislava would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bratislava 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 Sofia Expensive? and Is Bratislava Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Bratislava?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bratislava. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Bratislava, 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.