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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in India costs about 58% less than in Bulgaria on average.

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ₹238
$11.62 BGN 19.34
-78.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,359
$47.78 BGN 79.5
-70.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹381
$8.74 BGN 14.54
-54.46%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹180
$2.22 BGN 3.70
-15.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹42.18
$1.54 BGN 2.57
-71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.65
$1.04 BGN 1.73
-81.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹193
$2.34 BGN 3.89
-13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹331
$2.99 BGN 4.97
15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.6
$1.86 BGN 3.09
-61.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.49
$1.02 BGN 1.69
-49.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹69.0
$2.12 BGN 3.53
-66.04%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹89.2
$3.39 BGN 5.64
-72.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹502
$10.90 BGN 18.13
-51.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹293
$7.99 BGN 13.28
-61.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.12 BGN 20.16
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹208
$1.69 BGN 2.82
28.40%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.5
$2.00 BGN 3.33
-62.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹100
$1.81 BGN 3.00
-41.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.9
$2.61 BGN 4.34
-79.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.71
$1.14 BGN 1.90
-65.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹47.02
$1.07 BGN 1.78
-54.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.58
$1.06 BGN 1.76
-50.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.27
$0.68 BGN 1.13
-51.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹388
$3.65 BGN 6.07
10.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹707
$7.18 BGN 11.95
2.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹176
$1.08 BGN 1.79
70.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹278
$1.72 BGN 2.86
68.60%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.65 ₹541
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Bulgaria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.75
$0.91 BGN 1.52
-60.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹932
$29.66 BGN 49.34
-67.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹91.0
$1.44 BGN 2.39
-34.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.77
$0.68 BGN 1.13
-55.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹165
$12.31 BGN 20.48
-85.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$1.56 BGN 2.60
-21.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$31.9K BGN 53.1K
-56.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.2M
$27.8K BGN 46.3K
-18.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.88 ₹3,912
$126 BGN 210
-67.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹374
$17.79 BGN 29.60
-78.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹747
$14.75 BGN 24.54
-47.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,545
$34.85 BGN 58.0
-53.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹717
$15.61 BGN 25.97
-52.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹328
$8.97 BGN 14.91
-61.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,691
$536 BGN 891
-86.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹171.6K
$7,636 BGN 12.7K
-76.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,472
$57.3 BGN 95.3
-54.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,547
$32.95 BGN 54.8
-19.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,329
$95.8 BGN 159
-52.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,223
$102 BGN 169
-66.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Bulgaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.0K
$489 BGN 814
-63.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹11.0K
$382 BGN 636
-70.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.9K
$869 BGN 1,446
-53.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.2K
$637 BGN 1,059
-58.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹118.6K
$2,406 BGN 4,003
-48.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹60.4K
$1,671 BGN 2,780
-62.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Bulgaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.3K
$1,162 BGN 1,932
-62.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
3.92
130.10%

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

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bulgaria: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

National salary averages: $398 in India, $1,079 in Bulgaria. 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
India vs Bulgaria: 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.

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