Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sofia or Brussels?
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 Brussels. 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 Brussels?
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.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belgium, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Belgium.
-
Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesBrussels Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Brussels $193
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Brussels is $193. 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 Brussels in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Brussels $86
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Brussels $172
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Brussels
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Brussels? 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 Brussels Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Brussels $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers in Sofia: $83
- Arrival Transfer: Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Luxury Car: $94
- Bansko Shuttle: Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $107
- Bansko Transfer From/to Sofia Airport and Hotels: $286
- Borovets Transfers from/to Sofia Airport: $179
- Bucharest: Private Transfer to Sofia: $219
- Departure Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport SOF in Luxury Van: $82
- From Plovdiv Day Tour with Transfer: $78
- From Private Transfer for SPA to Sapareva Banya: $100
- From Rila Monastery & Melnik Day Trip with Transfers: $102
- Korali Hot Spring with Private Transfers: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko Ski Resort: $226
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
-
Subway Pass$5.28
-
Atomium train ticket (2)$9.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- Private transfer from Brussels to Ostend, 2h Sightseeing Stop: $263
- Private Transfer From Brussels To Circuit SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Belgium Luxury car : $238
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $194
- Private direct transfer from Brussels to Ostend: $191
- Transfer from Antwerp <-> Amsterdam Shuttle (1 to 8 Places): $191
- Private door-to-door transfer from Brussels to Lille, France: $191
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Bruges with Business car: $180
- Private Transfer: Brussels Hotel to Zaventem Airport: $179
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Ghent by Luxury car: $178
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Brussels MB S-CLASS 3 PAX: $167
- Brussels Airport (CRL) Private Transfer to Brussels City/Hotels: $139
- Shuttle transfer Brussels <-> Lille (1 to 8 PLACES): $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Brussels?
Prices for flights to both Brussels 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
-
Food Meals for one daySofia $35Brussels $77
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
Typical Food Prices in Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
-
Ice Cream & Macaroons$5.40
-
Dessert (Turkish Delights)$5.57
-
Cheese$6.57
-
Olives and Snacks$8.19
-
Waffle$3.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Chocolate and Beer Food Tour of Brussels: $47
- Experience Authentic Belgian Cuisine: Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Ghent Local: $99
- Brussels Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $118
- Brussels Food Tour: 10 Tastings of Waffles, Beers, Fries & More: $133
- Market Tour and Cooking Lesson with a Belgian Gourmet Meal in a Brussels Home: $179
- Brussels Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide: $240
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Brussels $27
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 Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in the templar village of Lissewege: $82
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Fall and Rise of Art Nouveau: $18
- 4 Hour Private Tour in Brussels : $269
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of Brussels' Secret Places and Untold Stories: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of From Medieval to Modern Times: $9.99
- Architecture Tour of Brussels: $30
- Art Nouveau's Sublime Capital: An Audio Tour in Brussels: $12
- Artistic Bruges on a Private Tour with a local: $78
- Best Intro tour of Brussels with a Local: $166
- Bike tour Brussels highlights and hidden gems: $39
- Bright Brussels Highlights BikeTour ENGLISH: $38
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Brussels $15
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine$12
-
Beer$7.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Beer tasting in a Brussels Micro Brewery and Distillery: $30
- Beer & Chocolate Tasting in a Brewery-Distillery: $79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Brussels, we can see that Brussels 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 Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels 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 Brussels Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Brussels?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Brussels. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Brussels, 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.