Which place is cheaper, Trieste 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 Trieste?
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 Trieste. 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 Trieste?
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.
Trieste
Located on the northeast Italian coast next to the Adriatic Sea, Trieste is a city characterized by its European charm, ancient architecture, and striking sea views. Its art, music, history, and culture also take some influence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, boasting many Slavic traditions and empire-era architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.
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Sofia Prices
Bulgaria PricesTrieste Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $86Trieste $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $86, while the average daily cost in Trieste is $145. 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 Trieste in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $44Trieste $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $88Trieste $130
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Trieste
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Trieste? 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 Trieste Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $9.26Trieste $21
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Trieste
Also for Trieste, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Piran to Ljubljana city: $267
- Venice from Trieste Port - Transfer or Tour for Disembarking Ship: $260
- Private transfer from Portoroz to Ljubljana city: $257
- Private transfer from Izola to Ljubljana city: $244
- Private transfer Trieste Airport from & to Ljubljana: $237
- Private transfer from Lipica to airport Ljubljana: $234
- Private Transfer Trieste Port to Venice Marco Polo Airport / City: $215
- Private direct transfer with local driver from Trieste to Zagreb: $191
- Transfer from Trieste to Venice Airport: $191
- Private transfer from Trieste to Pula: $171
- Private Transfer from Koper Port to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $167
- Private transfer from Ilirska Bistrica to Ljubljana city: $166
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Trieste?
Prices for flights to both Trieste 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 $35Trieste $63
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 Trieste
For Trieste, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Unique Food Tour with Local Flavors and Tastings: $90
- Istria - Truffles: Hunting & Cooking & Tasting, Slovenia: $154
- 5-Course Food Tour with Electric Bikes: $298
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $6.54Trieste $25
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
Tours and Activities in Trieste
For Trieste, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- The best of Izola walking tour: $108
- Amazing Private Tour Postojna and Predjama from Portoroz: $210
- Best Venice Shore Excursion from Trieste Cruise Port: $94
- Coastal Escape: Izola&Marezige Wine Hills Private tour from Koper: $179
- Deluxe Venice Shore Excursion from Trieste Cruise Port: $102
- Experience Trieste: $203
- Explore highlights of Trieste on a private 3-hour walking tour: $299
- Flavours of Istria Tasting Experience from Piran or Portoroz or Izola: $137
- Food & Wine -> Gourmet tour in Piran: $143
- Full Day Majestic Venice Tour with Canal Ride from Trieste : $105
- Full Day Venice Tour from Trieste for First Time Cruise Visitors: $92
- Guided tour of Cividale, a UNESCO site for Lombard history: $238
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $9.26Trieste $9.39
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 Trieste
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Trieste:
- Trip to Stanjel castle wine tasting and gourmet lunch 4 courses from Piran: $143
- Experience Slovenian Coast line with Wine Tasting from Trieste: $182
- Wine Tour on the Coast: $293
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Trieste, we can see that Trieste 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 Trieste would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Trieste 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 Trieste Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Trieste?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Trieste. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Trieste, 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.