Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulgaria and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulgaria and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $914 in Bulgaria versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Bulgaria versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,923 in Bulgaria versus $846 in India.

Living in Bulgaria is roughly 136% more expensive than India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Bulgaria 32% lower, India 71% lower.

Bulgaria ($714$1,373) and India ($264$888) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 BGN 19.34
$2.49 ₹238
366.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.78 BGN 79.5
$14.20 ₹1,359
236.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 BGN 14.54
$3.98 ₹381
119.60%
Cappuccino
$2.22 BGN 3.70
$1.88 ₹180
18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 BGN 2.57
$0.44 ₹42.18
250.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 BGN 1.73
$0.19 ₹18.65
447.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 BGN 3.89
$2.02 ₹193
15.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 BGN 4.97
$3.45 ₹331
-13.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 BGN 3.09
$0.72 ₹68.6
158.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 BGN 1.69
$0.52 ₹49.49
96.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 BGN 3.53
$0.72 ₹69.0
194.44%
Eggs
$3.39 BGN 5.64
$0.93 ₹89.2
264.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.90 BGN 18.13
$5.24 ₹502
108.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 BGN 13.28
$3.07 ₹293
160.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.12 BGN 20.16
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 BGN 2.82
$2.17 ₹208
-22.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 BGN 3.33
$0.76 ₹72.5
163.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 BGN 3.00
$1.05 ₹100
72.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 BGN 4.34
$0.53 ₹50.9
392.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 BGN 1.90
$0.39 ₹37.71
192.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 BGN 1.78
$0.49 ₹47.02
118.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 BGN 1.76
$0.52 ₹49.58
103.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 BGN 1.13
$0.33 ₹31.27
106.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.65 BGN 6.07
$4.05 ₹388
-9.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 BGN 11.95
$7.39 ₹707
-2.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 BGN 1.79
$1.84 ₹176
-41.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 BGN 2.86
$2.90 ₹278
-40.69%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹541
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bulgaria
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 BGN 1.52
$0.36 ₹34.75
152.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.66 BGN 49.34
$9.74 ₹932
204.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 BGN 2.39
$0.95 ₹91.0
51.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 BGN 1.13
$0.30 ₹28.77
126.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.31 BGN 20.48
$1.73 ₹165
611.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 BGN 2.60
$1.23 ₹117
26.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K BGN 53.1K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
130.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K BGN 46.3K
$22.6K ₹2.2M
23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 BGN 210
$40.88 ₹3,912
208.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.79 BGN 29.60
$3.91 ₹374
354.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.75 BGN 24.54
$7.81 ₹747
88.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.85 BGN 58.0
$16.15 ₹1,545
115.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.61 BGN 25.97
$7.49 ₹717
108.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.97 BGN 14.91
$3.42 ₹328
162.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$536 BGN 891
$69.9 ₹6,691
666.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,636 BGN 12.7K
$1,793 ₹171.6K
325.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 BGN 95.3
$25.83 ₹2,472
121.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95 BGN 54.8
$26.61 ₹2,547
23.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 BGN 159
$45.24 ₹4,329
111.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 BGN 169
$33.68 ₹3,223
201.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bulgaria
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 BGN 814
$178 ₹17.0K
174.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 BGN 636
$115 ₹11.0K
233.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$869 BGN 1,446
$407 ₹38.9K
113.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$637 BGN 1,059
$264 ₹25.2K
141.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,406 BGN 4,003
$1,240 ₹118.6K
94.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,671 BGN 2,780
$631 ₹60.4K
164.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bulgaria
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,162 BGN 1,932
$432 ₹41.3K
168.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.92
9.02
-56.54%

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

Last update for Bulgaria: May 30, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $310 in Bulgaria, $127 in India. Capital cities: $696 in Sofia vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,079 in Bulgaria, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 144% higher in Bulgaria.

Dining out costs 218% more in Bulgaria.

Public transport is 189% more expensive in Bulgaria.

Salaries are 171% higher in Bulgaria, giving Bulgaria stronger purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bulgaria vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Bulgaria compare to India?
At $1,044 per month in Bulgaria and $576 in India, there's a 81% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Bulgaria vs India?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Bulgaria or India?
Rent in Bulgaria beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Bulgaria and India on $1,000 per month?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Bulgaria, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Bulgaria or India?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Bulgaria may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Bulgaria vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries