Moving to Bulgaria? 2024 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Bulgaria has been influenced by the Roman, Greek, Slavic, Ottoman and Persian cultures and has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, clothing and crafts. It’s one of the poorest country in Europe but one of most interesting to visit.

If you are considering moving to Bulgaria, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving to this country in the Balkans.

Quick Bulgarian Facts:

Population: 6,831,309 (2022 estimate)
Official Language:Bulgarian is the official language in Bulgaria and is the primary language of about 85% of the Bulgarian population. Apart from that, Macedonian is also spoken by around 2.5% of people in Bulgaria.
GDP Per Capita: 23,225.62 BGN
UNESCO world heritage sites: Bulgaria has a diverse landscape boasting mountains, beaches, mineral springs and 10 UNESCO heritage sites, including Pirin national park, Rila Monastery, Nessebar and Srebarna.
Currency: Bulgarian lev (лв or BGN). As of September 2022, £1 = $1.09, €1 = $0.97, $1 лв1= $0.50, $1 AUD = $0.65

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Bulgaria

You can find out how much it costs to shipping this to Bulgaria by using this form.

2. Bulgarian Housing Costs

Most people live in apartments, studios, and maisonettes in cities. Most village residents live in houses with relatively large gardens where they can grow food and keep small livestock. Property in the countryside is cheap but generally exceptionally run down.

Monthly Rental Prices in Bulgaria

1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: лв 450 – лв 1000
1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: лв 300 – лв 800
3 bedroom apartment in City Centre: лв83 – лв 2000
3 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: лв 550 – лв 1300
Price per square meter to buy in City Centre: лв 1600 – лв 6000
Price per square meter to buy outside city: лв 1100 – лв 3800

Bulgarian Housing Cost Comparison

This is how rents in Bulgaria compare with other countries around the globe.

The United Kingdom is 217.32% more expensive
The United States is 426.64% more expensive
Australia is 274.19% more expensive
Singapore is 649.86% more expensive
France is 171.68% more expensive
UAE is 275.71% more expensive
Spain is 125.77% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs

Share an apartment or house. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: iRoommates, Erasmusu, Roomlala, and Homestay.

Different regions – different prices. The housing costs in different provinces vary considerably. Sofia is the most expensive place to live, but even then, it’s inexpensive by most country’s standards. You can buy a two bedroomed apartment with glorious view of the mountains in Bansko for €25,000.

3. Bulgarian Food, Grocery, and Restaurant Costs

Bulgarians grow a lot of their own food. Every town and village has a food market where you can get a glimpse of all the seasonal foods available in the country. Most European countries are represented in the restaurants’ menus and restaurant tend to cook with seasonal produce, so you won’t find asparagus on the menu twelve months of year.

Inexpensive Restaurant: лв10 – лв30
Takeout Coffee: лв1.50 – лв5
Bottle of Coke: лв1.30 – лв3
1L of milk: лв1.79 – лв3
Loaf of Bread: лв1 – лв2.50
12 Eggs: лв2.40 – лв6
1kg Chicken Fillets: лв7 – лв18
1kg Beef: лв10 – лв25
1kg Apples: лв1.30 – лв4
1kg White Rice: лв2 – лв4

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major countries worldwide.

UK restaurants are 91.24% more expensive, and groceries are 37.58% more expensive than in Bulgaria.
United States restaurants are 111.76% more expensive, and groceries are 118.76% more expensive than in Bulgaria.
Australian restaurants are 88.00%more expensive, and groceries are 109.36% more expensive than in Bulgaria.
Singapore restaurants are 70.35% more expensive, and groceries are 109.51% more expensive than in Bulgaria.
French restaurants are 93.09% more expensive, and groceries are 86.12%more expensive than in Bulgaria.
UAE restaurants are 69.42% more expensive, and groceries are 46.51% more expensive than in Bulgaria.
Spanish restaurants are 48.50%more expensive, and groceries are 16.45% more expensive than in Bulgaria.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants, and Groceries

Know your supermarkets: Bulgaria grows it own quality vegetables, and produces a variety of dairy products, including excellent cheeses and yoghourts. Pork andchicken are found in the supermarkets and, on high days and holidays, goat and lamb are sold. Popular supermarkets in Bulgaria are Billa, Supermarket mladost, Aldo supermarket, and Janet city market.
Find Cheap Eats:Eating out in Bulgaria is extremely affordable. However, don’t expect the best quality food. Sofia has a few good restaurants but they are few and far between. Have a look at the following sites for suggestions – TripAdvisor, Sofia adventures, Wanderlog, Slight North, and ForSofiaLovers.

4. Bulgarian Alcohol Costs

Bulgarians drink when they are happy or sad; when they’re celebrating or mourning or just sitting around with friends – it’s part of their culture. Bulgaria produces some good wine, beer and many liqueurs which are distilled in monasteries.

Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: лв3 – лв6
Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: лв1.80 – лв5
Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: лв1 – лв2
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: лв1.60 – лв4
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: лв7 – лв16

How to drink for less in Bulgaria – even though it’s cheap

Keep an eye on the local papers and flyers for cheap drinks, either in supermarkets or bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – TripAdvisor, Sofia Adventures, Youtube, and Culture trip.

5. Bulgaria Transportation Fares

Buses are the main form of public transport in Bulgaria. The private sector operates coaches but, if you travel by road, beware Bulgarians don’t stick to any of the rules of the road. The railway system badly in need of updating, resulting in constant breakdowns and late arrivals.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult Single – лв1 – лв1.60
Monthly season ticket, unlimited – лв35 – лв60
Taxi Start (normal tariff) – лв1 – лв2.49
Taxi 1km (normal tariff) – лв0.82 – лв1.50

How to save money on public transport

Buy a weekly ticket for unlimited travel
Use the railway to travel at a low cost in Bulgaria
If live in Plovdiv, you can use the cycle paths. Not to be recommended in most areas of Bulgaria due to erratic driving
Walking is also an option, just beware of the traffic

6. Cost of Internet in Bulgaria

Sofia has the fastest internet connection and internet prices in Bulgaria are average for this part of Europe. Here are some sample internet prices from September 2022:

Vivacom– 100Mbps for лв23.99
Yettel – 50Gb for лв40.00

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym, and Leisure

Bulgaria has a complex climate with two main climate zones – the south enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters and the north has a continental climate. In summer, the interior can get uncomfortable hot but it remains warm in the mountains. The average temperature ranges from 29.4 – 32.2 C degrees in the daytime during the summer months, but it can occasionally go beyond 40C. During the winter, Bulgaria is cold, with snow in the Balkans which attracts skiers from around Europe.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: лв45 – лв190
Summer Dress: лв30 – лв80
Running Shoes (Trainers): лв80 – лв200
Business Shoes: лв85 – лв200
Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): лв54
Deodorant: лв7
Shampoo: лв5
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): лв2.80
Gym membership: лв30 – лв65 per month
Movie (cinema) ticket: лв10 – лв20

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Bulgaria

The motorways in Bulgaria are well maintained and designed for high speeds. The majority of other roads in the country are not well maintained and Bulgarians pay no attention to road rules or speed limits. People living in the larger Bulgarian cities tend to use public transport rather than drive as it’s much quicker and safer.

You can drive on a foreign licence or an International Driving Licence for up to a year. After that date you must get a Bulgarian driving licence.

There are two ways to register vehicles in Bulgaria if you are living in the country rather than holidaying. They can either be registered as personal assets or registered as company assets. The traffic police organise registration of the vehicles. Insurance costs don’t vary very much but it’s still worth getting quotes from different companies.

Here are some costs related to owning and operating a car in Bulgaria:

Volkswagen Golf: лв46,519
1 liter (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):лв2.45 – лв3.50
Other fees (if any):For an average passenger vehicle, the 3rd party liability cost is between лв300 – лв600 a year.

Source: Numbeo, Jobsforeuropeans

Ways to save money driving in Bulgaria

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld, Carsharing, Blablacar, and Car search direct.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you have to park all day. Try, Yellow taxi Sofia, Camelot taxi sunny beach and Around Bulgar,ia.

Need your car/vehicle moved to Bulgaria? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping

9. Taxes in Bulgaria

Your residence status is a major factor in determining your income tax liability in Bulgaria. A Bulgarian resident is taxed on his/her worldwide income at a rate of 10%, whereas a non-resident only pays 10% tax on his/her Bulgarian income. To learn more about the Bulgarian tax system, go to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance. Sales tax in Bulgaria is 20%.

If you own your home, you’ll pay an annual property tax based on where you live and the size of the property. Current annual property tax ranges from 0.01% to 0.45% of the tax value of the property. Learn more about property tax in Bulgaria at this government website.

10. Flight Costs from Bulgaria

If you do make the move to Bulgaria, here’s how much approximately it will cost to fly to other major world cities from Sofia based on the lowest one-way fares from Skyscanner as of late 2022:

London: лв319
Paris: лв276
New York: лв1,075
Los Angeles: лв1,368
Dubai: лв763
Sydney: лв3,091
Melbourne: лв3,304
Cape Town: лв1,529
Hong Kong: лв1,372

Other Bulgarian Relocation Tips

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Bulgaria, but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Relocating to Bulgaria Alone

Moving is always a stressful time, but moving on your own can be exceptionally difficult. Bulgarians are generally welcoming, especially to those people who take the time to learn a little Bulgarian. Here are a few tips about settling in Bulgaria.

Meetups:Bulgaria has many Meetup groups covering a wide range of activities from skiing in the Balkans to swimming in Varna.
Attend local events: There is always something going on in Bulgaria, and many of the activities are free. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – Trip Adviser, Ricksteves, and Chasing the donkey.

12. Moving to Bulgaria with a Family

Bulgaria is a family-friendly country and a safe place to raise a family. Families can enjoy many outdoor activities in Bulgaria, from skiing to surfing.

New parents (or parents-to-be):Check out Kindyroo for advice, courses, and ways to meet other parents or parents-to-be.
Live in a family-friendly area:Find the best family-friendly region and place to live at Expatra.
Find things to do with the kids:Bulgaria has lots for children to do. Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Trip Advisor, Cheeseweb, Inspirock, and capetocase.

13. Moving to Bulgaria for Work

Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make a move.

Multinationals, such as Boeing, BMW, Siemens, and Nortel, have moved into Bulgaria attracted by incentives such as low taxes. Unemployment is high in Bulgaria but there is a lack of skilled labour to fill technical positions such as IT and engineering.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary:Bulgaria’s salaries vary considerably depending on the industry, but they are generally lower than the rest of Europe. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to be made to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Time Doctor, bg, and Salary explorer.
How to find work: If you want a job lined up before moving to Bulgaria but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: bg, Jobtiger.gb, zaplata.bg, Rabota.bg, and Karieri.bg.

14. Moving to Bulgaria from Australia

Very few Australians live in Bulgaria but those do say they love the countryside and the mountains and Bulgaria’s proximity to other European countries. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to Bulgaria, here are a few things to consider.

Size comparison:Australia is 70 times bigger than Bulgaria and has 18.5 million more residents.
Join expat groups:Internations, Eat, stay.love.Bulgaria and com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Bulgaria.

15. Moving to Bulgaria from the United States

There are Americans living in Bulgaria who thoroughly enjoy experiencing new cultures and travelling around Europe with ease. The low tax rate is also a big drawcard for US citizens. If you’re considering joining them, here are a few things to consider.

Size: the USA is 89 times larger than Bulgaria and has 325.7 million more citizens.
Expat groups:Meeting up with fellow Americans helps the moving process. Link up through sites such as Internations and Meetup.

16. Moving to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom

There are approximately 18,000 Brits living in Bulgaria. Many have taken early retirement in order to enjoy the low cost of living in the country. So, if you’re considering joining them, here are a few bonus tips:

Size: Bulgaria would fit into the United Kingdom 2.2 times, and when compared with the UK, has 58.8 million fewer people living there
Expat groups:If you want to get together with others from the UK who enjoy everything Bulgaria has to offer, then go to Internations and Meetup.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If you want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Bulgaria, you can start by comparing moving quotes here.