Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2026

9 min read · Published 6 October 2026 · Updated 7 October 2026

One person in Sofia needs about $1,700-2,500 a month including rent, and about $1,000-1,500 in Burgas on the coast. Since 2026 the country uses the euro, and income tax is 10%.

Free consultation

Key facts	2026
Single person with rent in Sofia	$1,700-2,500 a month
Couple in Sofia	$2,500-3,400 a month
Family with a child	from $3,200 a month
One-bedroom flat in central Sofia	$620-1,010
Average gross salary, Q2 2026	~$1,700
Currency	euro since 1 January 2026

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Bulgaria is one of the most affordable countries in the EU: rent, a café lunch and city transport are noticeably cheaper than in Western Europe, and income tax is a flat 10%. Since 1 January 2025 the country has been fully in Schengen, and since 1 January 2026 it has used the euro at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva, so prices no longer need converting.

After the switch to the euro, prices in shops and cafés rose slightly, and rent in Sofia has grown faster than wages in recent years. The main expense is housing: a one-bedroom flat in the centre of the capital rents for $620-1,100 (€550-900), less in the suburbs and residential districts.

Who Bulgaria suits on budget: remote workers and entrepreneurs with income from abroad, retirees and families who want the EU, the sea and mountains close by at modest cost. Local wages are below Western European levels, so living here on outside income pays off most.

Amounts below are in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, about $1.121 per euro, rounded up.

We will calculate online the full cost for your task.

Calculate online

Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport

Monthly item	Sofia	Burgas
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$620-1,010	$400-570
One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district	$610-730	$290-430
Two-bedroom flat in the centre	$1,010-1,570	$570-850
Utilities	$110-170	$110-170
Internet and mobile	$14-23	$14-23
Groceries per person	$230-340	$230-340
Public transport	~$30	$30-34
Lunch in an inexpensive café	$9-14	$9-14
Private doctor visit	$30-51	$30-51
International school, per year	$11,300-22,500	-

Rent figures are for furnished flats on long leases. In Sofia the most expensive areas are the centre, Lozenets, Iztok and Izgrev, cheaper ones Mladost, Lyulin and Nadezhda. In Burgas the centre and the area by the Sea Garden are pricier, Meden Rudnik is the cheapest.

Utility bills are higher in winter: in buildings with central heating they are more predictable, with electric heating noticeably higher. On the coast summer adds air conditioning, and rent rises in the holiday season.

Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child

Household	Per month
Single person	$1,700-2,500
Couple	$2,500-3,400
Family with a child	from $3,200

The single budget assumes a one-bedroom flat in Sofia, groceries, phone and internet, utilities, transport and moderate café spending. In Burgas a single person without a car needs about $1,100-1,500 (€900-1,300) a month with rent, a couple $1,600-2,300 (€1,400-2,000). For a family the total depends on the district, nursery or school and insurance, so we calculate the exact figure in the chat.

A Sofia budget starts with the visa and the lease

In Bulgaria money is lost at the start not on groceries but on documents and housing: a Russian citizen needs a long-stay visa for a specific ground, the lease must be suitable for address registration, and winter heating bills easily add a hundred dollars a month. We choose the ground for the visa and residence permit, check the lease, help pick a district for your budget and handle the documents until the card is issued.

The cost of support depends on the residence grounds and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

Get a support quote

What to pay in the first month

A deposit for the flat - usually one month's rent, sometimes with a month paid in advance.
The first month's rent in Sofia - $620-1,010 for a one-bedroom flat in the centre.
Private health insurance while the visa and residence permit are processed.
Translations and apostilles of documents for the residence permit.
A Bulgarian SIM card and address registration under the lease.

For the first three months a single person needs from $6,500 with rent in Sofia, a deposit and living costs, while visa and residence fees depend on the ground.

Where to live: comparing cities

Sofia is the capital and business centre: it has the most jobs in IT and outsourcing, international schools, private clinics and Russian-speaking communities. Families often choose Lozenets, Iztok and Izgrev, or houses at the foot of Vitosha in Boyana and Dragalevtsi. The downside is winter smog from heating.

Burgas is a compact Black Sea city where a one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $400-560 (€350-500) and on the outskirts $280-430 (€250-380). It is one of the cheapest seaside cities in the EU, but in winter some cafés close and complex treatment is taken to Sofia or Varna.

Plovdiv and Varna are a middle option: cheaper than the capital, with universities and hospitals. Districts and prices in detail are in the Sofia and Burgas guides.

Districts and prices in detail: Sofia, Burgas.

Healthcare and insurance

With a residence permit and a job in Bulgaria you pay contributions to state health insurance and are treated in state clinics. Before that you need private insurance, which is required for both the long-stay visa and the residence permit.

Private clinics and doctors are inexpensive by European standards: a visit costs $30-55 (€25-45), often without a long wait. Many prefer to have complex operations in Sofia or abroad.

Schools and nurseries

State schools are free and teach in Bulgarian. Sofia has several international schools with British and American curricula, costing about $12,000-23,000 (€10,000-20,000) a year.

State nurseries in Bulgaria are free, but in Sofia places are scarce, especially in new districts. Private nurseries are available immediately and cost noticeably more.

Salaries and taxes

The average salary in Bulgaria in the second quarter of 2026, according to the National Statistical Institute, was $1,700 (€1,444) gross. After the employee's contributions of about 13.8% and 10% tax, take-home pay is roughly $1,300 (€1,120). Salaries in Sofia are above the national average.

Income tax is a flat 10%. Freelancers pay 10% on income after deducting 25% as standard expenses, so the real burden is below the rate. Corporate profit tax is also 10%, one of the lowest in the EU.

How to cut costs

Rent in Mladost or Lyulin rather than central Sofia: the difference reaches $200-300 a month.
Look for a flat with central heating: electric heating costs more in winter.
Sign a one-year lease: monthly and seasonal lets are noticeably more expensive.
Buy vegetables and fruit at markets rather than in supermarkets near home.
Consider Burgas or Plovdiv if you work remotely: rent there is one and a half to two times lower than in Sofia.

The main saving is the city and district. A remote worker with income from abroad is better off living outside the capital and travelling to Sofia on business: the trip from Plovdiv takes about two hours.

This topic in other countries

Cost of living in other countries:

FAQ

How much money do you need to live in Bulgaria?

A single person in Sofia needs about $1,700-2,500 a month with rent, in Burgas about $1,100-1,500 (€900-1,300). A couple in Sofia needs $2,500-3,400, a family with a child from $3,200.

How much does it cost to rent a flat in Sofia?

A one-bedroom flat in the centre is about $620-1,100 (€550-900) a month, and in residential districts such as Mladost about $610-730 (€540-650). A two-bedroom flat in a good district starts from $1,100 (€900).

What is the average salary in Bulgaria in 2026?

In the second quarter of 2026 it was $1,700 (€1,444) gross. Take-home pay after contributions and 10% tax is roughly $1,300 (€1,120).

What currency does Bulgaria use in 2026?

The euro. Bulgaria switched to it on 1 January 2026 at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva per euro.

How much do groceries cost in Bulgaria?

Groceries for one are about $230-340 (€200-300) a month. Vegetables and fruit are cheaper at markets, imported goods more expensive.

Where is it cheaper to live: Sofia or the coast?

Rent in Burgas is one and a half to two times lower than in Sofia: a one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $400-560 (€350-500). But there are fewer jobs, international schools and specialist hospitals.

What is the income tax in Bulgaria?

A flat 10%. Employees also pay contributions of about 13.8%, and freelancers deduct 25% of income as standard expenses.

Do you need health insurance in Bulgaria?

Yes. Until you get state insurance through work or contributions you need private cover, which is also required for a long-stay visa and residence permit.

How much does an international school in Sofia cost?

About $12,000-23,000 (€10,000-20,000) a year depending on the school and grade. State schools are free and teach in Bulgarian.

How much money do you need to move to Bulgaria?

For the first three months a single person needs from $6,500 with rent in Sofia, a deposit, insurance and living costs, excluding visa and residence fees.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

Free consultation

Or message us on Telegram →

FreeConfidentialInstant reply

Programs

Programs in Bulgaria

Repatriation