Cost of Living in Bulgaria - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Bulgaria
Address: BG

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $957 including rent across Bulgaria.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,484 including rent across Bulgaria.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,011 including rent across Bulgaria.

Living costs in Bulgaria vary widely – from $572 in more affordable cities to $1,659 in major hubs, spanning a $1,087 range across 44 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 BGN 19.87

$7.16 BGN 11.91

$20.89 BGN 34.75

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.10 BGN 78.4

$29.42 BGN 48.95

$92.1 BGN 153

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 BGN 17.57

$8.80 BGN 14.64

$12.63 BGN 21.02

Cappuccino

$2.54 BGN 4.22

$1.17 BGN 1.95

$4.58 BGN 7.61

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 BGN 2.83

$1.19 BGN 1.99

$3.01 BGN 5.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 BGN 2.10

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$2.29 BGN 3.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 BGN 4.01

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$4.71 BGN 7.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 BGN 5.93

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$5.40 BGN 8.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.46 BGN 2.42

$2.38 BGN 3.96

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BGN 2.00

$0.73 BGN 1.22

$2.39 BGN 3.98

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 BGN 3.91

$1.22 BGN 2.02

$3.15 BGN 5.24

Eggs

$3.49 BGN 5.80

$2.08 BGN 3.46

$5.29 BGN 8.79

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 BGN 17.88

$7.17 BGN 11.92

$17.53 BGN 29.16

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.18 BGN 13.61

$4.66 BGN 7.75

$11.37 BGN 18.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.70 BGN 22.80

$6.95 BGN 11.56

$20.74 BGN 34.51

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$3.01 BGN 5.01

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$2.85 BGN 4.75

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BGN 3.13

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$2.94 BGN 4.88

Tomato (1kg)

$2.87 BGN 4.78

$1.67 BGN 2.78

$4.69 BGN 7.80

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$0.58 BGN 0.97

$2.05 BGN 3.42

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 BGN 1.74

$0.58 BGN 0.96

$1.74 BGN 2.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.58 BGN 0.97

$1.76 BGN 2.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$0.54 BGN 0.90

$1.16 BGN 1.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BGN 6.75

$3.56 BGN 5.92

$4.74 BGN 7.89

Wine (Bottle)

$7.10 BGN 11.81

$4.16 BGN 6.92

$11.83 BGN 19.67

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$0.69 BGN 1.15

$1.70 BGN 2.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$2.99 BGN 4.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 BGN 1.58

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$1.18 BGN 1.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.07 BGN 48.37

$17.75 BGN 29.53

$35.56 BGN 59.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 BGN 2.62

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$2.35 BGN 3.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 BGN 1.25

$0.57 BGN 0.96

$1.16 BGN 1.93

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.64 BGN 21.03

$10.83 BGN 18.01

$18.00 BGN 29.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.42 BGN 2.36

$1.79 BGN 2.98

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K BGN 41.4K

$22.7K BGN 37.8K

$29.1K BGN 48.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$134 BGN 223

$75.9 BGN 126

$238 BGN 396

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.93 BGN 31.49

$11.83 BGN 19.69

$28.92 BGN 48.12

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.43 BGN 24.00

$9.64 BGN 16.04

$23.57 BGN 39.22

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.00 BGN 59.9

$18.20 BGN 30.27

$59.3 BGN 98.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.40 BGN 32.28

$10.84 BGN 18.03

$29.49 BGN 49.06

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 BGN 13.63

$5.84 BGN 9.72

$11.43 BGN 19.02

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$586 BGN 975

$353 BGN 587

$931 BGN 1,548

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,853 BGN 16.4K

$4,810 BGN 8,002

$15.7K BGN 26.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 BGN 101

$28.58 BGN 47.55

$117 BGN 194

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.57 BGN 59.2

$17.78 BGN 29.57

$60.7 BGN 101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.4 BGN 155

$53.3 BGN 88.6

$139 BGN 231

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.9 BGN 153

$51.0 BGN 84.9

$150 BGN 250

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 BGN 821

$271 BGN 451

$884 BGN 1,471

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 BGN 612

$207 BGN 344

$680 BGN 1,131

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 BGN 1,397

$391 BGN 650

$1,763 BGN 2,934

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 BGN 968

$303 BGN 505

$1,141 BGN 1,898

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,395 BGN 3,984

$1,271 BGN 2,114

$4,840 BGN 8,051

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,643 BGN 2,733

$942 BGN 1,567

$3,455 BGN 5,747

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,174 BGN 1,953

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.14

2.5

5.7

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $338 in Bulgaria. For reference, capital rent is $809 in Sofia, and $146 in Targovishte.

National average salary: $1,093. With average costs at $957, most workers manage but need to budget carefully.

Expect to spend about $219 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $39.00 for two.

In Sofia (capital), expect about $1,659 per month, while Targovishte offers the lowest costs at $572 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($957) is 31% below the global median of $1,379.

Average rent ($338) is 49% below the global median of $664.

Dining out ($39.00) is 20% below the global median of $49.00.

Public transport ($23.00) is 32% below the global median of $34.00.

By City in Bulgaria

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Asenovgrad	54778	44	$648	$964	$1,652	$2,098	92.97	69.9
2	Bansko	8000	47	$568	$1,006	$1,613	$2,100	66.32	85.28
3	Blagoevgrad	75079	40	$453	$887	$1,269	$1,872	55.25	146.72
4	Botevgrad	21241	37	$520	$808	$1,254	$1,739	173.56	50.67
5	Burgas	189741	57	$683	$1,220	$1,724	$2,471	216.63	148.09
6	Dimitrovgrad	49061	42	$506	$923	$1,338	$1,772	23.37	74.52
7	Dobrich	89627	28	$609	$616	$1,507	$1,421	121.79	117.02
8	Dupnica	37081	41	$537	$913	$1,441	$1,932	63.5	112.49
9	Elin Pelin	7200	45	$608	$991	$1,518	$2,039	316.44	152.53
10	Gabrovo	59611	47	$636	$1,030	$1,493	$2,062	249.1	66.62
11	Gorna Oryahovitsa	40000	46	$633	$1,006	$1,535	$2,044	65.84	120.5
12	Haskovo	76587	41	$579	$880	$1,527	$2,056	20.7	108.6
13	Kardzhali	49421	31	$506	$686	$1,071	$1,564	179.24	84.1
14	Karlovo	23919	37	$497	$813	$1,289	$1,830	121.06	49.81
15	Kazanlak	49032	42	$606	$912	$1,594	$2,003	28.74	123.53
16	Kyustendil	47640	38	$461	$842	$1,223	$1,720	248	143.97
17	Lovech	37297	46	$619	$994	$1,542	$2,104	112.45	92.27
18	Montana	44502	40	$604	$862	$1,469	$1,937	243.83	84.67
19	Pazardzhik	76739	49	$446	$844	$1,253	$1,314	63.15	95.92
20	Pernik	78342	41	$492	$871	$1,234	$1,313	68.84	170.59
21	Pleven	111567	42	$679	$909	$1,801	$1,984	111.83	138.58
22	Plovdiv	368983	57	$714	$1,242	$1,835	$2,615	155.96	145.22
23	Pomorie	13919	43	$580	$936	$1,491	$2,049	92.23	98.36
24	Popovo	15878	43	$558	$951	$1,362	$1,891	60.28	142.75
25	Razgrad	35049	40	$582	$866	$1,374	$1,789	193.82	119.03
26	Ruse	159798	47	$656	$1,037	$1,311	$2,049	69.91	144.02
27	Samokov	25138	50	$708	$1,098	$1,769	$2,318	30.74	92.64
28	Sandanski	28058	49	$684	$1,073	$1,748	$2,311	22.55	75.62
29	Shumen	85504	44	$572	$937	$1,391	$1,981	19.31	108.56
30	Silistra	37923	42	$534	$895	$1,290	$1,666	174.3	134.79
31	Sliven	95806	37	$536	$814	$1,407	$1,754	162.28	121.11
32	Smolyan	30507	35	$495	$763	$1,277	$1,644	35.22	59.58
33	Sofia	1286383	76	$855	$1,659	$2,238	$3,447	89.42	190.9
34	Stara Zagora	149266	42	$538	$898	$1,451	$1,933	177.09	88.13
35	Sunny Beach	-	50	$625	$1,075	$1,776	$2,175	114.49	77.47
36	Svishtov	33000	44	$591	$951	$1,500	$2,085	122.87	110.81
37	Targovishte	39578	27	$532	$572	$1,193	$1,808	53.87	100.2
38	Troyan	23422	53	$727	$1,171	$1,885	$2,464	239.72	88.84
39	Tutrakan	8000	45	$619	$985	$1,511	$2,047	46.69	77.41
40	Varna	348058	67	$786	$1,486	$1,995	$3,161	64.55	173.31
41	Veliko Tarnovo	71150	48	$669	$1,065	$1,701	$2,260	106.06	146.82
42	Vidin	50977	38	$577	$818	$1,430	$1,821	137.32	66.07
43	Vratsa	60877	40	$489	$841	$1,258	$1,753	61.8	132.75
44	Yambol	76599	46	$502	$997	$1,326	$2,074	257.02	91.94

Bulgaria Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Bulgaria - Frequently Asked Questions

Bulgaria tends to offer a strong value proposition for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. Rents are typically more affordable than in Western Europe, and you can find clean, well-connected neighborhoods outside peak tourist zones at reasonable prices. Food, transit, and services generally stay budget-friendly, with plenty of local options that let you stretch a monthly budget without sacrificing comfort. The Cost of Living in Bulgaria varies by city and neighborhood, but steady infrastructure development supports longer stays and steady wifi in many shared spaces. Seasonal tourism can push prices up briefly in coastal towns, while inland towns stay steadier. Tip: choose neighborhoods with good transit links and short commutes to save time and money.

Daily life centers on practical choices: search housing near reliable transit, test a few groceries from local markets, and mix work-friendly cafes with occasional coworking spaces. In Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv you will find affordable transit passes and a growing scene for digital nomads, while smaller towns offer quieter routines and tighter budgets. Bulgaria living cost can shift with the season, especially along the coast when tourism peaks. Tip: look for longer leases to lock in steady monthly rates and negotiate utility inclusions to prevent surprises.

Quality of life in Bulgaria combines vibrant history, friendly neighborhoods, and slower tempos that suit you as a remote worker. Build a simple budgeting framework around housing, groceries, utilities, and local leisure. Expect modest but steady costs that rise with coastal seasons and tourism, so plan a monthly buffer for peak months. For neighborhood fit, look for walkable cores with easy transit access, parks, and nearby markets rather than purely tourist areas. Practical savings come from shared accommodation, cooking at home, and taking advantage of municipal events or free cultural offerings. Tip: create a monthly baseline, then add a seasonal adjustment and a small reserve for unexpected repairs or travel.

As a lower-cost destination, Bulgaria attracts expats, retirees, and long-term visitors on fixed budgets. Smaller cities are especially wallet-friendly, while bigger centers charge more but remain competitive globally.

As of 2026, living expenses in Bulgaria span $572 to $1,659 monthly. Capitals and tourist hotspots sit at the top end; provincial towns offer substantially cheaper living.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Bulgaria drop fast. Targovishte is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$800 a month goes far in Bulgaria, especially outside the big cities. It's a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.

Living in Bulgaria is cheap by global standards. Regional cities offer the best value, with the capital Sofia sitting higher. Low living costs are one of the country's main draws for expats, retirees, and anyone stretching a budget.