Which place is cheaper, Munich 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 Munich?
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 Munich. 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 Munich?
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.
Munich
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria and a top travel destination within Germany. It has stunning architecture and a cultural scene that rivals Berlin. It has some of the country's top museums, festivals, and concerts. Munich is most famous for its Oktoberfest, which is easily the busiest time of year in the city. The architecture is what surprises most travelers. It's quite impressive and truly adds to the character of the city. Although much of Munich was destroyed during World War II, the city has successfully rebuilt most of the buildings in their previous style. Much of the city remains as it was in the 1800s. There are two major research universities in Munich, helping to make it a center for engineering, business, and the sciences.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.
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Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesMunich Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Munich $197
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Munich is $197. 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 Munich in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Munich $105
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Munich $210
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Munich
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Munich? 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 Munich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Munich $22
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 Munich
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
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Single Zone Trip on Subway$2.70
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Inner District Subway Day Pass$6.10
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City transport day ticket$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
- Private transfer from Munich to Prague: $846
- Budapest: Private transfer to Munich or Munich to Budapest: $547
- Private Transfer from Munich to Nuremberg with 2 hours for sightseeing: $287
- Munich to Prague - Private Door-to-Door Transfer, Local English-speaking Driver: $287
- Private transfer from Munich to Vilshofen or Vilshofen to Munich: $275
- Private Transfer from Munich to Linz, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $269
- Departure Transfer: Munich to Munich Airport MUC by Luxury Car: $265
- Arrival Transfer: Munich Airport MUC to Munich by Luxury Car: $265
- Private transfer from Munich to Salzburg or Salzburg to Munich: $251
- Private Door-to-Door Transfer from Munich to Passau, Local Driver: $249
- Private Transfer from Munich to Salzburg, English-speaking driver: $245
- Skip-the-line Nymphenburg Palace Guided Tour with Transfers: $244
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Munich?
Prices for flights to both Munich 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 $35Munich $55
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 Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Munich:
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Bratwurst$5.87
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Leberkässemmeln (Veal & Pork Sandwich)$2.29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Munich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Munich.
- Flavors of Bavaria: A Self Guided Food Tour in Munich: $20
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Hard Rock Cafe Munich with Set Lunch or Dinner : $35
- Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour: $51
- Culinary Haidhausen - The Food Tour: $52
- 3-Hour Food Tour Through Schwabing in German: $63
- 3-Hour Food Tour Through Haidhausen in GERMAN: $63
- Christmas Markets Food Tour in Munich: $66
- Munich Food Tour : True Bavarian Full Meal with Drinks: $70
- Beer and Food Tour with Dinner & Oktoberfest Museum: $85
- Food Tour Beer- 3 small beers & "Brotzeit" in GERMAN: $87
- Munich Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Bavarian Specialties: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Munich $34
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Munich
Here are a few typical costs in Munich for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Schack Gallery Entrance$4.69
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Munich Zoo Entrance$11
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Pub Crawl Munich Tour$16
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Neuschwanstein Castle (2)$28
Tours and Activities in Munich
Here are a few actual costs in Munich for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Access A tour for blind and partially sighted people: $179
- Ride Through Munich on Shared Scooter Tour: $72
- 11 places on the trail of the Nazi era - self-guided tour: $12
- 2 Hours Best of München Sightseeings Tour: $81
- 2 Hours VIP Private Segway Tour: $100
- 2 hour Sights Guided E-Scooter Tour in Munich: $72
- 2-Hour Segway Discovery Munich Night Tour: $102
- 2-Hour Segway Discovery Tour Munich: $72
- A Full-Day Walking Tour of Munich: $470
- A Self-Guided Bavarian Tour of Munich's Hidden Wonders: $3.57
- A delicacy tour through Munich's old town: $53
- Alte Pinakothek Munich Guided Tour: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Munich $43
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 Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
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Hofbrauhaus$14
Sample the Local Flavors in Munich
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Munich:
- Exclusive Brewery Tour & Tasting of 4 Organic Beers: $31
- Munich's Original Pub Crawl: $34
- Private Pub Crawl with Free Beer and Shots: $35
- English Guided Brewery Tour in Munich beertasting 4 beers: $41
- Guided tour and beer tasting in the middle of the Hadern brewery: $42
- South Tyrolean specialties and wine tasting: $46
- Beer and Brewery Tour in Munich: $56
- Old Town Beer and Pub Tour (4 beers): $65
- Beer and Pub Tour with Tasting Portions: $69
- Aschheim: Distillery Tour with Tasting and Buffet: $81
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Munich with a Wine Expert: $316
- Private pub crawl with insider-guide & free shots: $317
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Munich, we can see that Munich 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 Munich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Munich 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 Munich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Munich?
Munich has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Munich, 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.