Cost of Living Comparison Between India and BulgariaCost of Living Comparison Between India and Bulgaria
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in India versus $916 in Bulgaria.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $1,423 in Bulgaria.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $1,929 in Bulgaria.
๐Living in India costs about 58% less than in Bulgaria on average.
๐Both countries sit below the global median: India71% lower, Bulgaria32% lower.
๐India ($272โ$901) and Bulgaria ($725โ$1,398) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53โน237
$11.69BGNย 19.53
-78.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21โน1,334
$47.55BGNย 79.4
-70.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.03โน379
$9.03BGNย 15.08
-55.37%
Cappuccino
$1.81โน169
$2.33BGNย 3.89
-22.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43โน40.61
$1.55BGNย 2.60
-72.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14โน13.59
$1.08BGNย 1.80
-87.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03โน191
$2.31BGNย 3.86
-12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56โน334
$3.02BGNย 5.04
17.88%
๐ Groceries & Markets
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73โน68.9
$1.77BGNย 2.95
-58.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51โน48.31
$1.01BGNย 1.69
-49.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71โน67.0
$2.08BGNย 3.47
-65.87%
Eggs
$0.92โน86.2
$3.39BGNย 5.65
-72.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.38โน505
$11.08BGNย 18.50
-51.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15โน296
$7.78BGNย 13.00
-59.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.26BGNย 20.47
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.19โน205
$1.70BGNย 2.84
28.82%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76โน71.4
$2.00BGNย 3.34
-62.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05โน98.9
$1.82BGNย 3.03
-42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54โน50.3
$2.63BGNย 4.39
-79.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39โน37.01
$1.13BGNย 1.89
-65.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45โน42.44
$1.10BGNย 1.83
-59.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55โน51.7
$1.06BGNย 1.78
-48.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33โน30.72
$0.67BGNย 1.12
-50.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12โน387
$3.81BGNย 6.37
8.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51โน705
$7.31BGNย 12.21
2.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87โน176
$1.07BGNย 1.79
74.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01โน282
$1.71BGNย 2.85
76.02%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.74โน539
-
-
๐ Getting Around
India
Bulgaria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37โน34.39
$0.90BGNย 1.50
-58.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.64โน905
$29.65BGNย 49.51
-67.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89โน83.9
$1.39BGNย 2.32
-35.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28โน26.14
$0.66BGNย 1.11
-57.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.70โน160
$12.17BGNย 20.33
-86.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23โน115
$1.52BGNย 2.53
-19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9Kโน1.3M
$32.3KBGNย 54.0K
-57.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3Kโน2.1M
$27.9KBGNย 46.6K
-20.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.60โน3,717
$124BGNย 207
-68.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.88โน364
$17.40BGNย 29.06
-77.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.76โน729
$14.71BGNย 24.57
-47.25%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.21โน1,521
$35.61BGNย 59.5
-54.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67โน720
$15.88BGNย 26.51
-51.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42โน321
$8.92BGNย 14.90
-61.66%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$70.4โน6,611
$536BGNย 896
-86.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,830โน171.8K
$7,555BGNย 12.6K
-75.78%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.48โน2,392
$58.2BGNย 97.2
-56.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.46โน2,484
$33.16BGNย 55.4
-20.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.74โน4,293
$95.4BGNย 159
-52.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.10โน3,106
$99.5BGNย 166
-66.74%
๐ Accommodation & Living
India
Bulgaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$173โน16.2K
$483BGNย 806
-64.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111โน10.5K
$375BGNย 626
-70.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$409โน38.4K
$885BGNย 1,479
-53.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255โน23.9K
$645BGNย 1,077
-60.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,223โน114.8K
$2,386BGNย 3,984
-48.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633โน59.4K
$1,573BGNย 2,627
-59.73%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$435โน40.8K
$1,166BGNย 1,947
-62.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.02
3.92
130.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: April 21, 2026
Last update for Bulgaria: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ National rent averages: $127 in India, $309 in Bulgaria. Capital cities: $234 in Delhi vs $683 in Sofia.
๐ฐNational salary averages: $404 in India, $1,069 in Bulgaria. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
โญRent is 143% higher in Bulgaria.
โญDining out costs 218% more in Bulgaria.
โญPublic transport is 189% more expensive in Bulgaria.
โญSalaries are 165% 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
India vs Bulgaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Bulgaria compare to India?
At $1,062 per month in Bulgaria and $587 in India, there's a 81% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ 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 โ 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.