That’s not all, Bulgaria happens to be one of the cheapest travel destinations in Europe. Tourists and other foreigners that plan to stay long in Bulgaria can live comfortably on a budget.
Cities like Sofia, Vratsa, Varna, Burgas, and Plovdiv happens to be top destinations for expats residing in the country. If you plan to visit Bulgaria but need more detailed information on the cost of living in this Balkan nation, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll be showing you everything you need to know about the cost of living in Bulgaria.
Is Bulgaria expensive?
Believe it or not, Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries to live in when compared to other countries in the EU. You can spend as much or as little as you want to, depending on which parts of the state you reside in.
The living cost varies between towns and cities. If you live in areas with high economic activities like Sofia or Varna, you should expect to spend more on accommodation and other utilities.
Compared to the rest of Europe, this country offers you a cheap cost of living even if you are an international student. Even as an International student schooling in the country, you can live comfortably on an €800 budget no matter which institution they school in.
Cost of living
Being one of the best places to live in Europe, we complied with a comparative analysis of the expenses you may face on arrival. If you plan to visit Bulgaria, you must take note of the following expenditures and incorporate them into your budget.
Cost of accommodation
Your accommodation is going to take the biggest bite out of your budget. So it’s better you know the prices of apartments and other properties before finalizing your plan to relocate to Bulgaria.
On average, the price of renting a 900 square feet apartment in the country can be anywhere from €300 to €650 per month. The table below contains other housing costs.
Basic Utilities heating, electricity, water, gas) | €99 |
40” flat-screen TV | €300 |
Internet | €8 |
Food & Groceries
Buying groceries and eating out in this country is also very affordable. You can even purchase fast food prominent restaurants Local and international fast-food like McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Subway, and Bella Bulgaria.
There are also a lot of supermarkets in every corner of the country where you can get fresh vegetables and other groceries for a decent price.
Superstores like Carrefour, Metro, ProMarket, Billa, Fantastico, Kaufland, Lidl, T-Market, and Triumf offer you one of the best prices on food, groceries, and other commodities.
Here is the overall cost of groceries and other necessities in Bulgaria.
Combo meal | €3 |
Combo meal in a fast-food restaurant | €4 |
Lunch in an inexpensive restaurant | €5 |
Sandwich | €2 |
Cappuccino | €1 |
Coke/Pepsi 0.33l bottle | €1 |
Water 1.5l bottle | €0.8 |
Milk 1l | €0.9 |
500g Bread | €0.4 |
1kg white rice | €1.3 |
A crate of egg | €1.3 |
1kg cheese | €4 |
1kg chicken breasts | €4 |
1kg ground beef | €8 |
1kg apples | €1 |
1kg banana | €1.2 |
1kg oranges | €1 |
1kg tomato | €1.2 |
1kg potato | €0.5 |
A bottle of wine | €3 |
A bottle of beer | €0.6 |
A pack of cigarettes | €3 |
A pair of jeans | €50 |
1 summer dress | €24 |
A pair of shoes | €70 |
A pair of men leather shoes | €65 |
1 box of antibiotics | €10 |
1 box of tampons | €5 |
50ml deodorant, or roll-on | €2 |
Hair shampoo | €3 |
4 rolls of toilet paper | €1 |
Transportation
All Bulgarian cities boast advanced transport systems including buses, trains, trolleybuses, trams, taxis, and mini-buses (marshrutka).
The cost of urban transport varies between cities and districts but you should expect to spend less than €1 for a single transit ticket. In big cities like Sofia, you must have a ticket before you’ll be allowed to enter the vehicle.
Using a taxi to get around the nation is another common transport option that you should consider. You’ll be charged about €0.40/km.
In case you want to opt for other forms of transportation, here’s a list of transport costs in Bulgaria.
One-way ticket in a local transport | €0.50 |
Monthly pass | €25 |
1l of Gasoline | €0.50 |
1km of normal taxi tariff | €0.40 |
Sport & entertainment
Bulgaria is a top choice destination if you like skiing, mountain climbing, biking, hiking, mountain biking, exploring caves, and water sporting.
There are also invigorating sporting events that you can enjoy like football, tennis, boxing, and golf. If you are traveling to have a good time, then here’s the cost of leisure in the country.
1-month gym membership | €20 |
Tennis court rent | €9 |
1 cinema ticket | €5 |
1 theatre ticket |
€10 |