How much does it cost of living in Bulgaria?

One of European countries, Bulgaria, is characterized by relatively low prices for real estate, food, clothing, and transport. Settlers are looking for work here, new business opportunities, or a serene pastime in a hospitable state with a warm seaside climate. We decided to consider how much it costs to live in Bulgaria by analyzing the list of the main costs associated with staying on its territory.

The cost of real estate in Bulgaria

Let's start with the leading and most important issue - a roof over your head. If we talk about resort towns, such as Neserb, St. Vlas, or Sunny Beach, even in the high season, renting even a small studio there starts from 30 € / day and more. If a trip to lesser-known settlements, including Pomorie, Aheloy, or Primorsko, then the pricing policy is two times lower. Thus, you can easily find apartments for 15 € / per day in these resorts.

Renting an apartment in Bulgaria for a week will cost from 400 € to 1000 €. An ordinary apartment in Varna will cost about 500 € per month. Also, the rental price may include parking, a fitness center, and, for example, a swimming pool on the territory of a residential complex. If you are not looking for housing personally, but an agency, then they will take approximately 50% of the monthly cost of housing for their services.

If you have the necessary funds, you can think about buying your own home. So the cost of an apartment in Bulgaria starts from about 750 € per square meter, reaching up to 2500 € per square meter in a luxury property near the sea. According to official figures, there are about 3.9 million vacant housing units in the country, so there is plenty to choose from.

Electricity consumption for a family of two is about 30 € / month. In winter, this figure doubles or even triples. If you buy a house in Bulgaria connected to a central heating system, you will have to pay monthly for this service from 20 € in a provincial town to 90 € in the capital. Considering that actual salaries in the country fluctuate between 300-500 €, Bulgarians spend about 28% of the family budget on utility bills.

How much does food cost in Bulgaria?

The next most important item of human needs after housing is quality food. Therefore, let's not be original and consider the prices of products in Bulgaria. Their low cost is especially pleasing both in the markets and in local stores, including international food chains operating here. So, here are the prices for the main commodity items:

• Bread - 0.3 € / loaf;
• Rice - 0.75-1.8 € / kg;
• Pasta - 1.3-2.2 € / kg;
• Potato - 1.15 € / kg;
• Vegetables - 0.7-1.75 € / kg;
• Olives - 2.5 € / kg;
• Onion - 0.5 € / kg;
• Milk - 0.75-1 € / liter;
• Sour cream, 20% - 2 € / liter;
• Drinking yoghurt - 0.6 € / bottle;
• Curd, 4% - 3 € / kg;
• Cheese - 3 € / kg;
• Cheese - 5-8.5 € / kg;
• Butter - 0.6 € / pack;
• Eggs - 2 € / dozen;
• Sunflower oil - 1.3 € / liter;
• Olive oil - 5-7.5 € / liter;
• Chicken meat - 1.9 € / kg;
• Pork - 2-3.5 € / kg;
• Fish - 6.75-10 € / kg;
• Ham - 8.2 € / kg;
• Sausage - 6.8 € / kg;
• Dried ham (basturma) - 14.5 € / kg;
• Fruit - 1.5 € / kg;
• Peaches - 1-1.5 € / kg;
• Bananas - 1.5 € / kg;
• Strawberries - 1.5-2.5 € / kg;
• Jam - 1.5 € / bucket;
• Chocolate - 0.95 / bar, 100 g;
• Coffee – 0.17 € / stick;
• Spices - 0.44 € / jar.

In addition to an acceptable cost, food in Bulgaria is of excellent quality. If you decide to have lunch or dinner in a cafe or restaurant, one meal will cost about 10 € to 40 € for two. The price of street fast food is in the range of 1-1.5 € per serving. At Mcdonald's, you can eat for 4-5 €.

Next, consider the cost of drinks in Bulgaria:

• Mineral water - 0.2-0.3 € / liter;
• Wine - 2.5-6 € / bottle;
• Juice - 0.9 € / liter;
• Coca-Cola - 0.6 € / liter;
• Locally produced beer - 1 € / liter;
• Imported beer - 1.2-1.7 € / liter.

If compared with prices in Ukraine or Russia, the picture is quite adequate, besides taking into account the difference in wages. By the way, a pack of cigarettes will cost from 2.5 € to 3 €.

Prices for clothes in Bulgaria

On a full stomach, you can think about the proper appearance; therefore, in this paragraph of our list, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the cost of things in Bulgaria:

• Jeans - 30-40 €;
• T-shirt – 5 €;
• Leather women's boots - 50-100 €;
• Fashionable shoes – 90 €;
• Sneakers - 5 €;
• Dress - 20-30 €;
• Branded sneakers - 57-67 €;
• Men's boots - 48-65 €.

For those who are interested in jewelry, we give the following figures. A gram of silver in Bulgaria costs from 2.3 € to 10 €. The cost of one gram of gold starts from 34 €.

Although we have listed a far from a complete list of goods, these figures help form some idea of ​​what prices are in Bulgarian stores. Let's move on to transportation costs.

The cost of transport in Bulgaria

In this country, urban transport is quite developed. On average, a bus ticket will cost 0.5-0.65 €. Can purchase the travel car for up to 25 € / month. An intercity bus within the country delays an average of 1.3-2.5 € per trip. It is also possible to rent a car. Car rental in Bulgaria starts from 100 € per week and up. The price of gasoline is about 1 € / liter. Gas is twice as expensive.

Taxi delivery is estimated at 0.4-0.5 €, and for each kilometer of the road, you will be charged 0.3-0.4 €.

You can also purchase a vehicle. Here are some examples to give you an idea of ​​car prices in Bulgaria. So, the new Volkswagen Golf costs about 15.9-17.4 thousand €, and the Toyota Corolla will cost 17.3-19.8 thousand €. Similar cost for other cars of the same class.

In addition to the purchase/sale transaction itself, you will have to pay additionally for its documentary support. Notarization of the purchase costs from 50 € to 300 €, registration of a vehicle - 35 €, vehicle inspection - 25 €, vignette - 37 € per year, insurance policy - from 90 € to 160 €, environmental tax - from 90 € to 120 € per year.

Several legal issues also need to be taken into account. If you have not yet issued a permanent residence or residence permit to purchase a car in Bulgaria, you need to open your own company. This procedure will cost from 300 € to 500 €.

Additional expenses

Without citizenship registration, the regular renewal of a residence permit in Bulgaria will cost about 300 € annually. Health insurance will tighten around 65 €. It is not that expensive considering that one visit to the doctor costs 10-25 €. By the way, the prices for medicines in Bulgaria are slightly lower than in Russia or Ukraine.

To not spend the lion's share of the budget on restoring health, it is better to invest a little in strengthening it. So, a monthly subscription to a fitness club costs from 10 € to 22 €, depending on the city and the institution's prestige.

One hour of visiting the tennis court will drag out from 2.5 € to 10 €. Holidays in local ski resorts are much more expensive. Prices for this type of active pastime are within 200 € per week. If you have your equipment, the entrance itself will cost 5 € / day.

We inform fans of night rest that the entrance to the disco on average will not exceed 2.5 €. Cinema tickets cost from 4 € to 6 € depending on the session. The following is information for new parents. Sending a child to a private kindergarten will drag on from about 150 € to 500 € per year. A visit to the dolphinarium will cost about 40 € for an adult and about 20 € for a child ticket.

In this publication, we have given prices in Bulgaria for essential goods, services, and food. But, it is worth remembering that everyone has their own needs and understanding of the necessary costs. Therefore, someone can eat quickly for 150 € for a week, and for another, 1000 € a day is hardly enough.