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 $946 including rent across Bulgaria.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,467 including rent across Bulgaria.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,988 including rent across Bulgaria.

Living costs in Bulgaria vary widely – from $575 in more affordable cities to $1,633 in major hubs, spanning a $1,058 range across 44 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.86 BGN 19.73

$7.12 BGN 11.84

$20.76 BGN 34.53

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$29.15 BGN 48.50

$91.3 BGN 152

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.73 BGN 17.85

$8.94 BGN 14.88

$12.83 BGN 21.35

Cappuccino

$2.50 BGN 4.15

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$4.51 BGN 7.50

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

$1.63 BGN 2.71

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$2.88 BGN 4.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BGN 2.18

$0.89 BGN 1.48

$2.37 BGN 3.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 BGN 3.84

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$4.52 BGN 7.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 BGN 5.70

$2.05 BGN 3.40

$5.20 BGN 8.65

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 BGN 3.02

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$2.25 BGN 3.75

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 BGN 1.89

$0.69 BGN 1.16

$2.26 BGN 3.76

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 BGN 3.73

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$3.00 BGN 4.99

Eggs

$3.55 BGN 5.90

$2.11 BGN 3.51

$5.48 BGN 9.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 BGN 17.56

$7.03 BGN 11.70

$17.21 BGN 28.63

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.53 BGN 14.19

$4.86 BGN 8.08

$11.86 BGN 19.73

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 BGN 23.20

$7.08 BGN 11.78

$21.11 BGN 35.12

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.07 BGN 1.79

$2.99 BGN 4.98

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 BGN 3.42

$1.32 BGN 2.19

$2.93 BGN 4.87

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 BGN 3.20

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$3.00 BGN 5.00

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 BGN 4.72

$1.66 BGN 2.75

$4.64 BGN 7.71

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 BGN 1.84

$0.58 BGN 0.97

$2.04 BGN 3.40

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.58 BGN 0.97

$1.75 BGN 2.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$0.60 BGN 0.99

$1.79 BGN 2.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$0.55 BGN 0.91

$1.15 BGN 1.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 BGN 6.89

$3.63 BGN 6.04

$4.85 BGN 8.07

Wine (Bottle)

$6.92 BGN 11.52

$4.06 BGN 6.76

$11.53 BGN 19.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$1.76 BGN 2.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$3.01 BGN 5.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 BGN 1.49

$0.58 BGN 0.96

$1.13 BGN 1.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.05 BGN 48.33

$17.74 BGN 29.52

$35.54 BGN 59.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 BGN 2.52

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$2.32 BGN 3.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BGN 1.26

$0.58 BGN 0.97

$1.16 BGN 1.93

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.61 BGN 20.99

$10.81 BGN 17.99

$17.97 BGN 29.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.44 BGN 2.39

$1.81 BGN 3.00

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

$30.9K BGN 51.5K

$30.9K BGN 51.4K

$32.2K BGN 53.6K

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

$25.7K BGN 42.8K

$23.5K BGN 39.0K

$30.1K BGN 50.0K

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

$133 BGN 221

$75.2 BGN 125

$236 BGN 393

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

$18.54 BGN 30.84

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$28.39 BGN 47.23

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.28 BGN 23.76

$9.51 BGN 15.82

$23.25 BGN 38.68

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.46 BGN 57.3

$17.42 BGN 28.98

$56.8 BGN 94.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.25 BGN 32.02

$10.75 BGN 17.88

$29.26 BGN 48.68

Cinema Ticket

$8.52 BGN 14.17

$6.07 BGN 10.10

$11.88 BGN 19.77

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

$572 BGN 951

$344 BGN 572

$908 BGN 1,510

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,995 BGN 16.6K

$4,879 BGN 8,117

$15.9K BGN 26.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 BGN 104

$29.42 BGN 48.94

$120 BGN 200

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 BGN 57.9

$17.38 BGN 28.91

$59.3 BGN 98.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 BGN 154

$52.9 BGN 87.9

$138 BGN 229

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 BGN 152

$50.9 BGN 84.6

$150 BGN 249

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 BGN 810

$267 BGN 445

$872 BGN 1,451

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 BGN 603

$204 BGN 339

$671 BGN 1,116

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 BGN 1,349

$377 BGN 628

$1,702 BGN 2,832

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 BGN 981

$308 BGN 512

$1,156 BGN 1,924

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,334 BGN 3,884

$1,231 BGN 2,048

$4,688 BGN 7,799

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,666 BGN 2,771

$951 BGN 1,582

$3,489 BGN 5,805

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,178 BGN 1,960

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 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $339 in Bulgaria. For reference, capital rent is $795 in Sofia, and $149 in Targovishte.

National average salary: $1,082. With average costs at $946, most workers manage but need to budget carefully.

Expect to spend about $218 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $39.00 for two.

In Sofia (capital), expect about $1,633 per month, while Targovishte offers the lowest costs at $575 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($946) is 31% below the global median of $1,368.

Average rent ($339) is 49% below the global median of $667.

Dining out ($39.00) is 19% below the global median of $48.00.

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	$599	$927	$1,385	$2,108	92.97	69.9
2	Bansko	8000	47	$552	$1,026	$1,582	$2,077	66.32	85.28
3	Blagoevgrad	75079	40	$490	$880	$1,347	$1,831	55.25	146.72
4	Botevgrad	21241	37	$521	$808	$1,300	$1,753	173.56	50.67
5	Burgas	189741	57	$693	$1,206	$1,763	$2,446	216.63	148.09
6	Dimitrovgrad	49061	42	$531	$893	$1,501	$1,707	23.37	74.52
7	Dobrich	89627	28	$524	$608	$1,474	$1,379	121.79	117.02
8	Dupnica	37081	41	$546	$903	$1,259	$1,963	63.5	112.49
9	Elin Pelin	7200	45	$535	$958	$1,363	$2,008	316.44	152.53
10	Gabrovo	59611	47	$615	$996	$1,510	$2,000	249.1	66.62
11	Gorna Oryahovitsa	40000	46	$689	$983	$1,709	$2,032	65.84	120.5
12	Haskovo	76587	41	$541	$892	$1,615	$1,976	20.7	108.6
13	Kardzhali	49421	31	$520	$677	$1,212	$1,520	179.24	84.1
14	Karlovo	23919	38	$570	$813	$1,178	$1,810	121.06	49.81
15	Kazanlak	49032	42	$523	$907	$1,650	$2,000	28.74	123.53
16	Kyustendil	47640	38	$463	$827	$1,274	$1,681	248	143.97
17	Lovech	37297	46	$588	$994	$1,588	$2,042	112.45	92.27
18	Montana	44502	40	$571	$851	$1,389	$1,918	243.83	84.67
19	Pazardzhik	76739	49	$413	$832	$1,312	$1,270	63.15	95.92
20	Pernik	78342	41	$456	$881	$1,281	$1,305	68.84	170.59
21	Pleven	111567	43	$620	$897	$1,393	$1,969	111.83	138.58
22	Plovdiv	368983	57	$705	$1,214	$1,826	$2,551	155.96	145.22
23	Pomorie	13919	43	$563	$930	$1,381	$1,996	92.23	98.36
24	Popovo	15878	44	$533	$930	$1,266	$1,941	60.28	142.75
25	Razgrad	35049	40	$508	$852	$1,428	$1,779	193.82	119.03
26	Ruse	159798	47	$665	$1,028	$1,456	$1,980	69.91	144.02
27	Samokov	25138	50	$707	$1,088	$1,941	$2,318	30.74	92.64
28	Sandanski	28058	50	$640	$1,082	$1,872	$2,310	22.55	75.62
29	Shumen	85504	44	$534	$943	$1,608	$2,005	19.31	108.56
30	Silistra	37923	42	$585	$908	$1,233	$1,677	174.3	134.79
31	Sliven	95806	37	$541	$805	$1,446	$1,745	162.28	121.11
32	Smolyan	30507	35	$499	$736	$1,346	$1,625	35.22	59.58
33	Sofia	1286383	76	$865	$1,633	$2,173	$3,443	89.42	190.9
34	Stara Zagora	149266	42	$548	$904	$1,461	$1,925	177.09	88.13
35	Sunny Beach	-	50	$633	$1,063	$1,610	$2,168	114.49	77.47
36	Svishtov	33000	45	$658	$946	$1,538	$2,024	122.87	110.81
37	Targovishte	39578	27	$448	$575	$1,481	$1,761	53.87	100.2
38	Troyan	23422	53	$788	$1,143	$1,705	$2,449	239.72	88.84
39	Tutrakan	8000	45	$637	$963	$1,665	$2,042	46.69	77.41
40	Varna	348058	67	$797	$1,441	$2,007	$3,179	64.55	173.31
41	Veliko Tarnovo	71150	49	$673	$1,027	$1,676	$2,167	106.06	146.82
42	Vidin	50977	38	$542	$815	$1,432	$1,844	137.32	66.07
43	Vratsa	60877	40	$565	$863	$1,063	$1,739	61.8	132.75
44	Yambol	76599	46	$591	$986	$1,570	$2,031	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 $575 to $1,633 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.