Sofia: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Sofia is Bulgaria's capital, a city of about 1.3 million people at the foot of Mount Vitosha. It is the country's main business centre, home to IT and outsourcing companies, banks, government institutions and the largest universities. Bulgaria has been fully in Schengen since 2025 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, which made life easier for foreigners and business.

Sofia attracts with low prices, a 10% tax and good internet. Vitosha's ski slopes are half an hour away, the resorts of Borovets and Bansko a couple of hours, and the sea a few hours by car. In winter heating causes smog, and infrastructure in places lags behind Western Europe.

It suits remote workers, entrepreneurs, families on a budget and people with Bulgarian roots. It does not suit those seeking a mild climate all year or a developed local job market in English outside IT.

Neighbourhoods: where newcomers settle

Cost of living

A single person lives comfortably on about €1,500-2,200 a month including rent, a family with a child from €2,800. Dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 05.10.2026, rounded up.

Practicalities: transport, climate, money

• Transport. Metro, including to the airport and business park, trams and buses. Taxis are cheap, but rush hours bring traffic jams.
• Climate. Continental: about 0 and snow in winter, +25-30 in summer, with mild, sunny springs and autumns.
• Money. The euro since 2026; cards are accepted almost everywhere.
• Taxes. 10% income tax, employee contributions about 13.8%. See Bulgaria taxes.
• Internet. Fast fibre is available in almost every building, and mobile service is cheap.
• Language. Bulgarian is needed in daily life; Cyrillic and similar words help Russian speakers settle in faster.

Family: schools and healthcare

Public schools are free and teach in Bulgarian. Sofia has several international schools with British and American curricula, costing about €10,000-20,000 a year. Employees pay into public health insurance, while private clinics and doctors are inexpensive by European standards and often see patients without long waits.

Work and business

Bulgaria's corporate tax is 10%, one of the lowest in the European Union. Freelancers pay 10% on income after a standard 25% expense deduction, so the real burden is below the rate. VAT registration is mandatory from €51,130 annual turnover. The local job market is strong in IT, outsourcing and customer service in English and other languages, but salaries are below Western European levels, so living in Sofia pays off most with foreign income.

Moving and legal status

Residence is usually issued for a year, renewable; after 5 years permanent residence is possible. Russian nationals need a visa to enter before getting the card.

First steps after the move

• file for residence with the migration directorate and collect the card;
• get a foreigner's personal number: it is needed for taxes, banking and doctors;
• register your address and sign a lease, notarised if the authority requires it;
• open a bank account and connect the internet;
• arrange health insurance and choose a family doctor.

Is the city worth considering for living

Yes, if you want an affordable European Union and Schengen city with the euro, a 10% tax and mountains nearby, especially with foreign income. No, if a mild winter, clean air all year and an urban environment like Vienna or Munich matter to you. We choose the basis, handle documents and help with housing and registration; we fix our fee after a free consultation. Before deciding, many come for 1-2 winter months to test the neighbourhoods and climate.