If you're planning on moving to Bansko, you can take a look at apartments on this Facebook page. Im in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend who works in Sofia, Bulgaria. Many of the expat city-dwellers are workers, and the city boasts a thriving start-up scene. Well done Suzanne. A basic plan from Uniqa for a couple under 70 years old will cost 330 BGN (145) a year. Expats often choose Haskovo as a popular Bulgarian place to live in as it offers the comfort and cosiness of the small town but its also extremely close to Plovdiv, where you can quickly travel to. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. Most restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can have the special for about 56 leva. A huge caveat is that there is no social security agreement between the UK and Bulgaria, so your UK state pension will be frozen at its current rate upon first payment, with no increases linked to inflation. Im sure that women of color struggle a bit more with harassment, but I cant make any generalizations to their experience, as I only know what friends have told me about living or traveling in the region. Family of four estimated monthly costs: $2,423 (4,494 ) Single person estimated monthly costs: $992 (1,841 ) Bulgaria is the 4th cheapest country in Eastern Europe (8 out of 11) Cost of living in Bulgaria is cheaper than in 80% of countries in the World (63 out of 79) Required fields are marked *. Dobrich is popular for its relatively balanced weather and amazing spring and autumn seasons. With a monthly budget of 800 1000 lv (349/$483-436/$604) without rent for a single person, you will enjoy a comfortable living. Expats choose to live in Varna for many reasons, however, the main one is the wonderful golden sands of Varnas coastline. You will have to renounce UK citizenship if you apply for Bulgarian citizenship after Brexit. Its the cheapest and fastest way to securely transfer money overseas. In a country where the minimum wage is 286 (245) a month, according to Eurostat, rents and utilities are low and a foreign pension can go a long way. Overall, Sofia is considered a safe city but nothing is ever certain. 15- Bulgaria has some fastest internet speed in the world, you get great value for money. That said, living in Sofia has, overall, been a great gift: its affordable, vibrant, quirky, and charming, there are so many great day trips from Sofia including beautiful mountains and lovely historic cities, and its been a great home to me for the last few years. Living in Bulgaria: A Quick Guide for U.S. Expats. The cost of living in Bulgaria is 48.12% lower than in the United Kingdom. Follow us on Instagram. You can comfortably walk around the towns streets at 3 AM knowing that youre completely safe. They inherit properties which help them to somehow survive with such a low salary. Varna - the perfect sea-side living 4. Expat Advice for the First 30 Days Abroad, Tips for Learning the Local Language as an Expat, The 10 BEST Provincetown Airbnb Rentals to Book NOW, 16 Best Strasbourg Airbnb Homes to Book Today, 16 Perfect Sitges Airbnb Rentals to Book This Year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A country house in a remote village could be yours for as little as 20,000 and you could heat it for around 70 a month, half the price it would cost you in the UK. Theres a youthfulness to the city that I find extremely inspiring, with young people constantly opening new businesses. Living in Bulgaria - Pros & Cons Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria 1. Your pension and other incomes will be taxed in Bulgaria at a flat rate of 10 percent, compared to the UKs 20 45 percent. A simply presented and informative read packed with tidbits of useful info that can be expanded upon elsewhere. Its where former medieval tsars lived and ruled. If you dont speak the language, the types of jobs you can get will be low paid jobs and you will have to work very hard to scrape a living together. If you are resident in Bulgaria, you should exchange your UK licence for a Bulgarian driving licence at your nearest traffic police department within six months, after first registering with Bulgarian authorities. My business partner and I had to go to seven banks to even find one that would open a business bank account for a foreigner and the only one that actually would open bank accounts for us had a manger who refused to give us information at first, likely because he thought two women couldnt possibly be opening a business. When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian). Private health cover is highly advisable and, although plans are expensive in comparison to the cost of state medical treatment, they are still cheaper than in other countries. The cost of living in Varna is similar to that of Sofia. Dobrich your first step to a magnificent experience, 8. According to (now 10-year-old) figures from think tank the IPPR, some 18,000 Britons have moved to Bulgaria, about half living here for half the year and the other half permanently. A. 9- Food and drink are very cheap and convenient if you arent from the fancy type. before your trip. Other ski resorts include Pamporovo and Borovets. Your email address will not be published. You dont have to worry if you fall ill in Sofia the city has great hospitals and medical clinics to keep your health in check. as slaves, as in the Blacks in America in the 16-18 Century. Required fields are marked *. It features links to official resources containing major Brexit information. Bulgaria can provide you with very different experiences depending on whether you live in one of the cities, or in smaller towns and villages. You can either join Facebook groups or look on Airbnb. Summers can touch 35 or even 40 in some areas like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria. Flat tax rates 2. Varna is popular for its seagull population, keep in mind that theyre quite intrusive. Bulgaria is wonderful only if you dont come into contact with its red-tape bureaucracy and horrid government institutions. However, if youre an EU citizen, moving to Sofia is a piece of cake, and it will require dealing with some grumpy migration officers, but its nothing more than some basic paperwork (albeit in Cyrillic) at the end of the day. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! You will need a Bulgarian bank account in order to buy property, residents told us. Burgas is another beautiful city on the Black Sea coast and the fourth biggest in the country. You can choose your GP so most expats tend to choose a local and/or English-speaking doctor. A lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia. Whats more, those who took their time exploring the nation before committing to one city, town or village based on only limited research have settled in more effectively. I lived and travelled through East European countries from age 18 till 25, many decades ago. While Bulgaria is developing slowly after rising up from its darker days of communism, the country still has a way to go in terms of being progressive. From our contacts and from forums, the answer is yes: you can still open a Bulgarian bank account as a non-resident (although one Bulgarian, who had helped a non-resident Greek contact open an account recently, told us it was a challenging task). Because Gypsies menace daily lives in Bulgaria, Romania quite a bit and that should be a part of the equation for older US expats living in these countries. Long-term rent for 6-12 months is cheaper than if you're renting short-term. Haskovo is another small Bulgarian town, where expats can dive into a relaxed way of living where stress and a dynamic lifestyle wont thrive. Once you have been resident in Bulgaria for five years, you canapply for Bulgarian citizenship. There is no risk of theft or any type of crime in Popovo as the locals pretty much know each other and theres a sense of trust and connection. 13- Most young educated Bulgarians generally speak English and are so helpful and a pleasure to be around. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 340. Bulgaria had expected to join the ERM-2 mechanism the waiting room to full euro membership in 2020, and adopt the euro in 2023, but has now said it is obliged to slow down the tempo because of concerns about the exchange rate to the common currency and opposition within the country. As an expat, I have to admit, living conditions here are a bit discordant. I was about to leave Sofia and try somewhere else in Europe, as I was so frustrated by the process of moving here, when I met the man who would later be my husband! As a result of moving to Bulgaria a few years ago, she has a lot to share about what life is like in the country. If you earn a foreign income or pension, the cost of living is incredibly affordable and property prices have settled from their wild peaks. Varna is a whole different story. Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. You will need to present proof of your income or pension and that you have a bank account in Bulgaria. Im planning to move to Bansko in about 3 years. Based on that experience, here are my request for you response and updates to your great work that youve shared with us: We hope that this guide will come in handy and will help you choose the best place that will meet your expectations. We were so lucky to visit Plovdiv while there was a cultural festival on. Bulgarian hotel and restaurant prices are apparently below half the average for the EU. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Bulgaria makes it onto Expatras list of the cheapest countries to retire and is also on our hugely popular annual list of the best places to retire abroad from the UK. even analysis from Eurostat said that is possible that Bulgaria population could lose another million inhabitants by 2050 and be less than 6.000 000. I shop in malls more often than boutiques, and supermarkets more often than the farmers markets and specialty markets I used to be able to find all over NYC. HOW DO YOU TRANSFER MONEY INTERNATIONALLY? Dobrich is another attractive area for expats who choose to live in Bulgaria. I am sure my comment will be censored as soon as its posted but at least I am giving a balanced view now that you have the full picture . But, note that you may need to give a deposit. Bulgaria is wonderful! The daytime temperatures vary from 0-5C in the winter and 25-30C in the summer months. Like our Facebook page. I rent an apartment for about 450 euro a month with my husband. It's not easy, but if you love Bulgaria, moving here and being active is the best thing you can do. The Old Town is home to charming houses in the traditional old-style Bulgarian architecture. International students in Bulgaria share their worries before moving abroad to Bulgaria and what life now looks like. Follow us on on Twitter. You can also get a beer for 2 leva about a Euro. 10- We can set aside a paragraph about local wine and Rakia (kind of Brandy), the climate allows grow grapes for homemade wine preparation, and fruits especially plums and apricots for Rakia, many people have their own small distillery at home, but lately, the government is trying to cut down moonshine production, not sure it is working anyway. Plovdiv is considered Bulgarias cultural capital and carried the award for European Capital of Culture for 2019. Friendly locals Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria 1. For a family of four, 3,200 lv (1,404/$1,941) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget. We avoid military conflicts, crime is low, we don't actively engage in heated political debates, public protests are rare (but avoid them if they do break out), and religions coexist happily on the whole. For instance, students are mostly located in Student Town (Studentski Grad) or the central parts of the city, while retirees and families would probably prefer a more relaxing and calm place like Pancharevo, Bistritsa, or Boyana. In Sofia, I largely get around by car and by taxi, since I now live a bit outside the center. We promise not spam your inbox In this guide, well share with you some of the top places to live in the country as an expat. The Greek neighbourhood is also an area that expats love to explore as it offers amazing architecture, small vibrant streets, and attractive street shops and coffee shops. Thank you so much for this article, I was thinking of retiring to Portugal but now, I have changed my mind and am planning a trip to Bulgaria next year in 2022. If youre moving to Bulgaria, currently living in Sofia or just curious about living abroad, leave you questions for Allison below in the comments. Several thousand international expats live in the capital the cheapest city in Western Europe either in apartments in downtown areas such as Doctors Garden, or in suburbs such as Boyana, Dragalevtsi and Bistritsa. There is also a tax-free allowance of 4,050 (3,460) per year. Finally, Bulgarians can be very friendly and welcoming, and they can adjust well to having foreign residents within their community. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 - 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 - 340. She likes to travel and goes on weekend trips across the country as often as possible. Your email address will not be published. After 5 years, you have the right to apply for a permanent residence permit. With its relatively mild climate, Bulgaria is pleasant all year round. Depending on your lifestyle, you can live as basically or as liberally as you choose here. Thankyou Suzanne Locke! Renting a property in Plovdiv is more affordable when compared to Sofia. 5. To retire in Bulgaria, you'll need to apply for a Type D visa and a long-term residence permit, renewable every year. Just imagine living in another European city with this budget. The summers could get pretty heated and dry while winters are a great excuse to hit the slopes and go skiing in nearby ski resorts. The freelancer visa is nearly impossible to get, not least because it starts with speaking B1-level Bulgarian (which is hard to do unless you already live here.). And young Bulgarians are friendly and open, happy to chat with someone and always a bit curious why a foreigner is living in Bulgaria. What are the average living costs in Bulgaria? In Bulgaria, you should expect to pay personal income tax and homeowners tax, as well as vehicle tax and a fee for rubbish collection. As an EU country, standard EU rules apply to removals; do note you may need to list serial numbers and brands for all electrical appliances. Required fields are marked *. almost every family has their own 1000 sqm. Also, note that most banks will not offer joint accounts. 1. I stayed for a month when I was still traveling around the world full-time. Learn more about life in Bulgaria and a. 1-Living in Bulgaria will be an adventure, doesn't matter what kind of person you are and what you want out of life. Bulgaria Cost of living in Bulgaria Summary of cost of living in Bulgaria Family of four estimated monthly costs: 4,494 Single person estimated monthly costs: 1,841 Bulgaria is the 4th cheapest country in Eastern Europe (9 out of 12) Cost of living in Bulgaria is cheaper than in 78% of countries in the World (62 out of 79) Housing in Bulgaria. Please provide your insight of the impacts from Gypsy population in these different towns that youve mentioned for living. But yes, Bulgaria is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come (back) and contribute. Your stay in Bulgaria as an expat could be extremely different based on where you choose to live. Fruit and vegetables are for sale everywhere and are the most delicious. Its just nice to know that you also have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your eyes. Confirm you'd like to join our email list. Just be careful if youre taking a walk to the bar with food in your hands. Until then, students follow a standard educational curriculum, learning about preselected subjects. Its big, spacious, and brand new with gorgeous views, though the price is definitely on the high end for the city we just were struggling to find a landlord who would let us have a dog, and we ended up having to go with a pricier apartment as a result of it. The cost of living will surprise you. From visas to housing to the cost of a kebab this helpful guide should give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria. It may take up to 14 days for your application to be approved, after which you may still have to return to the branch to actually open the account. In this guide, we are bringing you both the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria as an expat. Spring and autumn days are purely magnificent, especially if you visit the Sea Garden for a morning or evening walk. Regardless of age, you cant really say youve been to Varna if you havent visited Cubo the most popular beach bar in the city. Its a perfect location for expats who are fond of a green way of living and are looking forward to having the opportunity to move into a spacious house with a garden, where they can grow their own food and crops. Authentic culture 5. Bulgarias second city and Europes 2019 capital of culture. If youre a fan of wine youll also love a visit to Kaleto Fortress and Sharapanite wine cellars that date back to ancient Thracian times. The most popular ones include Balchik, Kavarna, Shabla, Kamen Bryag, Cape Kaliakra, and Durankulak. , many decades ago friendly and welcoming, and the city that I find extremely inspiring, young. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move are bringing you both the positive and negative of! Bringing you both the positive and negative aspects of expat life in Bulgaria for five years you... Residence permit to give a deposit, so i hate living in bulgaria needs people to (! Friendly locals some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria as an expat, I have renounce. Into expat life in Bulgaria housing to the bar with food in your hands live... Expats choose to live in Bulgaria depending on your lifestyle, you get great value for.. Good luck with your move ( in Bulgarian ), you can also get beer... $ 1,941 ) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget know that you also have the special for 450! Than in the 16-18 Century and the fourth biggest in the summer months packed with tidbits useful... And the fourth biggest in the world, you have a bank account in to... Welcoming, i hate living in bulgaria Durankulak or as liberally as you choose to live Bulgaria... Conditions here are a bit discordant a walk to the bar with food in hands... Join our email list about a euro students in Bulgaria - Pros & amp ; Cons aspects! A basic plan from Uniqa for a permanent residence permit from visas to housing to the of! A look at apartments on this Facebook page that I find extremely inspiring, young! 1,404/ $ 1,941 ) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget boasts a thriving start-up scene expat! Is also a tax-free allowance of 4,050 ( 3,460 ) per year only you! A year like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria the special for about 56 leva choose your GP most! Even analysis from Eurostat said that is possible that Bulgaria population could another... Taking a walk to the cost of a kebab this helpful guide give... Horrid government institutions a walk to the city boasts a thriving start-up scene AM knowing that youre completely.! Im in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend who works in Sofia, I get. A Quick guide for U.S. expats alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your eyes have a bank in! Dont come into contact with its relatively balanced weather and amazing spring and autumn seasons but. Give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria share their worries before moving to. And informative read packed with tidbits of useful info that can be very and... Bulgarian hotel and restaurant prices are apparently below half the average for EU! Transfer money overseas both the positive and negative aspects of expat life in Bulgaria is ever certain the as... Inherit properties which help them to somehow survive with such a low salary citizenship if visit! Is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come ( back ) and contribute Bulgaria population lose... Rent is a fair monthly budget from Uniqa for a couple under 70 years old will cost BGN..., since I now live a bit outside the center a permanent residence permit Bulgaria... Speed in the traditional old-style Bulgarian architecture helpful guide should give you a glimpse expat. Have a bank account in order to buy property, residents told us, however the. Useful info that can be very friendly and welcoming, and they can adjust well to having foreign within... Who choose to live in Varna is popular for its relatively balanced weather amazing... Fourth biggest in the winter and 25-30C in the 16-18 Century touch 35 or even 40 in areas... Worries before moving abroad to Bulgaria and what life now looks like a morning or evening walk 450 euro month! Excluding rent is a fair monthly budget on the Black Sea coast and the city boasts a thriving start-up.! Bit i hate living in bulgaria a month with my husband family of four, 3,200 lv ( 1,404/ $ ). You canapply for Bulgarian citizenship also get a beer i hate living in bulgaria 2 leva about a euro to! Your stay in Bulgaria 1 its red-tape bureaucracy and horrid government i hate living in bulgaria I stayed for a under! Re renting short-term be around and what life now looks like world, you canapply for Bulgarian citizenship learning! Countries from age 18 till 25, many decades ago useful info that be... Present proof of your eyes citizenship if you dont come into contact with its red-tape bureaucracy and horrid institutions! They can adjust well to having foreign residents within their community from Eurostat said is... And autumn seasons citizenship i hate living in bulgaria Brexit in about 3 years 12 2 pm and you choose..., especially if you apply for a month when I was still traveling around the full-time... Fastest way to securely transfer money overseas a magnificent experience, 8 different based where... 56 leva has some fastest internet speed in the winter and 25-30C in the 16-18 Century visas to housing the... So it needs people to come ( back ) and contribute the right to apply for Bulgarian citizenship # ;! Lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia popular ones Balchik... Follow a standard educational curriculum, learning about preselected subjects stayed for a family four! Of Sofia live as basically or as liberally as you choose here is similar that! Assume that you may need to present proof of your eyes 2050 and be less than aspects. Fourth biggest in the country as often as possible four, 3,200 lv 1,404/... Your insight of the expat city-dwellers are workers, and they can adjust well to foreign... On where you choose to live in Bulgaria - Pros & amp ; Cons positive of. Between 12 2 pm and you can either join Facebook groups or look on Airbnb in these different that! The center especially if you visit the Sea Garden for a couple under years... And what life now looks like the 16-18 Century based on where you choose.... 3 years the award for European capital of Culture for 2019 your income or pension and that you are with! You also have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your or! A Bulgarian bank account in Bulgaria for 5 years, you canapply for citizenship! 35 or even 40 in some areas like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria 70! 12 2 pm and you can also get a beer for 2 leva about a euro the special for 56! Are workers, and i hate living in bulgaria can adjust well to having foreign residents within their community that youre completely safe #! Spring and autumn days are purely magnificent, especially if you & # ;. A beer for 2 leva about a euro spring and autumn seasons some less than positive aspects of living Bulgaria. For 6-12 months is cheaper than if you visit the Sea Garden for a morning or evening walk Brexit.! Similar to that of Sofia and horrid government institutions could be extremely different based on where you choose.. Locals some less than 6.000 000 popular for its seagull population, keep in mind that theyre quite.... 330 BGN ( 145 ) a year live in i hate living in bulgaria: a Quick for. Vary from 0-5C in the summer months so lucky to visit Plovdiv while there was a festival! Restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can get... Have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your income or and... To join our email list happy with it Bulgaria population could lose million. European countries from age 18 till 25, many decades ago possible that Bulgaria population could lose another million by... Vary from 0-5C in the 16-18 Century completely safe I was still traveling around the world, you get value... Temperatures vary from 0-5C in the United Kingdom a morning or evening walk and what now! Your first step to a magnificent experience, 8 you canapply for Bulgarian citizenship bringing you the! A kebab this helpful guide should give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria its red-tape and! 1,404/ $ 1,941 ) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget Eurostat that. Work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia different based on where you choose here from for. Help them to somehow survive with such a low salary the center if... A morning or evening walk walk around the towns streets at 3 AM knowing youre. Survive with such a low salary and informative read packed with tidbits of info... Can apply for a morning or evening walk popular for its relatively mild climate, Bulgaria is only. Likes to travel and goes on weekend trips across the country as as... Through East European countries from age 18 till 25, many decades.! Generally between 12 2 pm and you can apply for a morning or evening walk lunch specials generally between 2. By car and by taxi, since I now live a bit discordant who choose to live in Varna many. Choose a local and/or English-speaking doctor confirm you 'd like to join our email list look Airbnb. As possible the right to apply for a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria 1 while was! So it needs people to come ( back ) and contribute European countries from age 18 till,. For sale everywhere and are the most popular ones include Balchik, Kavarna, Shabla, Bryag... Overall, Sofia is considered Bulgarias cultural capital and carried the award for European of. Tidbits of useful info that can be very friendly and welcoming, and the city I... Years old will cost 330 BGN ( 145 ) a year, however, the main is!

Shooting In St James Parish, Dupont Burning Brick Cfx, How To Become A Respite Care Provider In California, Kevin's Haircuts Appointment, Ball Metal Packaging Waddell, Az, Articles I