How Much Does It Cost to Live in Bulgaria?
When reading about Bulgaria, you might come across information that this is one of Europe’s cheapest travel destinations and not only that.
Actually, it is considered one of the cheapest places to live in the world, especially if your income is in some other more developed countries.
Bulgaria can be taken as inexpensive for future settlers in relation to European continent standards.
Besides being affordable, Bulgaria has many other things to offer, such as beautiful high mountains and an amazing sea shore.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Bulgaria
RESTAURANTS
Being that the cost of food is low, eating out is equally affordable.
Bulgarians love to spend time in restaurants, taverns, and pubs, and that is what attracts settlers to try their way of life and visit one of them.
Restaurants offer inexpensive meals that will cost you around $8, which is very little money.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $8.27 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.65 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.82 |
MARKETS
In Bulgaria, the most money is spent on food, more than a third of your monthly salary, and that is not odd, as you will get a lot of different kinds of foodstuff at really reasonable prices.
Bread is extremely cheap, and domestic fruit and vegetables can be found at the local markets at even more affordable prices than in supermarkets.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.41 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.92 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.47 |
TRANSPORTATION
When you find yourself in a big city, there are various means of transportation to choose from and in Bulgaria, you can either drive or use the public transportation system.
Unlike the rest of Europe, this service is a bargain, due to the fact that a monthly pass would cost less than $30.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.88 |
| Monthly Pass | $27.56 |
| Gasoline | $1.63 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
When compared to Brazil, it can be noted that utilities are more expensive, but in relation to Europe, they are reasonable.
You will need to separate $120 for electricity, heating, and water, and during the winter months, it can be even more.
The Internet service is on the other hand more affordable in Bulgaria, not exceeding $13 per month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $117.02 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.17 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $12.32 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Bulgarians like entertainment and they spend quite a lot of money on that.
It can be interesting doing things like going to the cinema for $7 or exercising in a gym for $26 per month.
Tennis court rent is not high compared to Brazil and other European countries, but it is still not too affordable for people with minimum wages.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $26.70 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.08 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $7.16 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Bulgaria is a very cheap country, and clothing prices are also very low.
Actually, it belongs to those countries where clothing items are the cheapest.
You can find dresses for less than $30 and running shoes for $70, which is considered quite affordable in comparison to the prices in some other countries.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $56.49 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $29.35 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $71.86 |
RENT PER MONTH
Bearing in mind the fact that the average salary is not high, it is obvious that the accommodation costs would not be high, too.
One bedroom apartment would not exceed the minimum salary, but if you have a larger family, then you will need to give the whole monthly salary for the rent.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $367.01 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $277.47 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $639.21 |
HEALTHCARE
Healthcare is funded through mandatory public insurance contributions of about 8 percent of gross salary.
Private insurance is optional and usually costs around 20 to 50 USD per month.
Out-of-pocket spending is high, averaging approximately 500 to 700 USD per person per year, especially for medications and specialist visits.
With average monthly salaries near 900 USD, healthcare costs can consume a significant portion of income, particularly for older adults and those needing frequent care.
EDUCATION
Public schools are tuition-free, but families pay for uniforms, books, school supplies, and transport.
Private schools charge between $4,000 and $12,000 per year.
Public universities charge modest tuition, typically $1,000 to $2,500 per year for local students, while private universities can charge $3,000 to $7,000 annually.
Students also face costs for housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is around $900, so university tuition and living expenses represent a significant portion of household income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Bulgaria?
Not too much money is spent on accommodation, probably because Bulgarians possess their own houses and flats.
However, if you are relocating, you will need a decent apartment which would cost around $300.
On the other hand, too much money is given for food, as it is the expense of the utmost importance.
Leisure and apparel are the categories that take the least of the monthly budget.
These numbers are showing the approximate spending habits of Bulgarians, and how much you will spend cannot be estimated as it depends a lot on your own lifestyle.
Average Costs Breakdown
Bulgaria: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The minimum wage in Bulgaria has climbed in recent years and it has reached $300 nowadays.
This is quite low and not enough for a normal living if you have to pay for the rent.
On the other hand, the average wage is almost $800, and it is estimated to be sufficient for a decent living there.
So, for those who are earning above the average, living in Bulgaria would be a real bargain.
They can even afford to buy their own property, as the mortgage interest rates are low, approximately 4%.
Bulgaria Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Bulgaria Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Bulgaria
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Burgas |
36.26 |
| Plovdiv |
36.45 |
| Sofia |
40.36 |
| Varna |
39.13 |
Oh sure, Bulgaria is super cheap to live in if you’re rolling in cash from a “developed” country. Must be nice to think about how affordable it is while the rest of us are just trying to figure out how to pay for groceries this week. Yeah, let’s all just jet off to some beautiful mountains while we’re at it. Sounds great in theory, but I guess reality has a less glamorous price tag.
Who knew living in Bulgaria could be such a steal? It’s wild to think you can enjoy those stunning views without breaking the bank. I might just need to add it to my list of places to consider for a budget-friendly adventure!
That price talk has me thinking how much my rent and grocery bills would drop if I moved there. Beaches, mountains and ridiculously low costs would be trouble for my savings but a dream for my wallet.