Which place is cheaper, Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre?
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 Cinque Terre. 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 Cinque Terre?
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.
Cinque Terre
Located on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, Cinque Terra consists of five seaside villages exuding a charm that dates back to medieval times. Fishing boats bob in the harbors, bringing fresh seafood to the tables of the region, while age old vineyards make for fragrant signature wines. Cinque Terre is considered to be a National Park, with its five villages earning a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and timelessness.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.
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Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesCinque Terre Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Cinque Terre $199
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Cinque Terre is $199. 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 Cinque Terre in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Cinque Terre $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Cinque Terre $170
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Cinque Terre
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Cinque Terre? 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 Cinque Terre Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Cinque Terre $18
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cinque Terre
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Cinque Terre:
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Ferry Day Pass$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cinque Terre
Also for Cinque Terre, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Cinque Terre to La Spezia by Car or Van: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Cinque Terre?
Prices for flights to both Cinque Terre 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 $35Cinque Terre $84
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 Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Whole Pizza$11
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Panini$4.40
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$61
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Fresh Focaccia$2.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Riomaggiore: $214
- Cesarine: Sunset Spritz Masterclass with Dinner in Cinque Terre: $214
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Cinque Terre $15
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cinque Terre
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cinque Terre's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Double Kayak Rental (One Hour)$12
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Bagni Eden Beach Club Umbrella$19
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Cinque Terre Card (One Day)$5.87
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Cinque Terre Card (Three Days)$14
Tours and Activities in Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Cinque Terre Boat Tour : $255
- 2 Hr Shared Cinque Terre Sunset Cruise with Swim Stop {wine inc!}: $179
- 3 Hour shared Cinque Terre tour + Swim Stops at Secluded Beaches!: $155
- 3-Hour Private Boat Tour of the Cinque Terre: $287
- A unique experience of the Cinque Terre by sea.: $152
- Cinque Terre Daytime Boat Tour : escape into beauty and color: $142
- Cinque Terre Hybrid Boat Tour from Monterosso: $142
- Cinque Terre Lunch boat tour: $251
- Cinque Terre Morning Tour: $120
- Cinque Terre Night Tour: $263
- Cinque Terre Paddleboarding cruise at sunrise or sunset: $239
- Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour: $201
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Cinque Terre $7.87
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 Cinque Terre
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Cinque Terre:
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Glass of Local Wine$3.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Cinque Terre
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cinque Terre:
- Tour to the Sanctuary of Vernazza with DOC 5 Terre wine tasting: $66
- BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Trekking & Wine Tasting & Pesto Class: $72
- Pesto Class and Wine Tasting in Vernazza, Cinque Terre: $74
- Cinque terre wine tour and tasting with the somelier: $80
- Eco Hiking and Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre : $106
- Private Tour of Cinque Terre's Wine tasting with a local: $156
- Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings: $166
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Cinque Terre, we can see that Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Cinque Terre?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 730 times larger than the population of Cinque Terre. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Cinque Terre, 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.