Cost of Living in Sofia

The cost of living in Bulgaria is considerably lower than what you would get in the UK. Bulgaria is one of the cheapest places to live in the European Union. If you are moving to Bulgaria, or just visiting as a tourist, you will find the information in this blog very useful.

Appartment Hunting

It would cost you €180/month to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in a Bulgarian town like Veliko Tarnovo, and €120/month to rent a 1-bedroom apartment. This is much less than what it would cost to rent an apartment in a comparable town in the UK such as Winchester or Central London – €970/month. A one-bedroom apartment in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, would cost you €220/month.

Social Life

Most cities in Bulgaria have a vibrant nightlife. The nightclubs and bars here are not too expensive. Generally, a night out in Sofia, Bourgas or Varna would cost you between €10 and €25, which is very cheap by European standards. There’s no shortage of fun to be had, though.

Food

Food in Bulgaria is quite cheap and costs 40% less than in the UK. A loaf of bread costs €0.40, a pack of eggs costs €1.20, and 1 litre of regular milk costs €0.80.

 Fruits and vegetables are cheap too but their prices depend on the season. 1 kg of tomatoes or cucumbers costs €0.35. Potatoes cost between €0.35 and €0.60/kg.

Apples cost between €0.35 and €1.00/kg. Citrus fruits such as oranges cost less during winter, at €0.55 p/kg. You can have a dozen bananas for €1.00.

Dining Out

Cost of dining out in Bulgaria is one of the lowest in the European Union. You can have a luxurious meal for two people at a decent restaurant here for just €13.

A half-litre of draught beer costs €0.80 and imported beer just €0.90. Coffee is inexpensive. You can have a cup of coffee at one of the better coffee shops here that offer free Internet bandwidth for just €1.20 to €2.40.

Transportation

Transportation in Bulgaria is quite cheap. A bus ticket in any Bulgarian city costs an average of €0.30, and for a taxi ride, you will need to shell out about €0.35/km.

In Sofia, there is a decent metro system that can take you to any part of the city. A monthly pass at the Sofia metro would cost you €25. Generally, a 15-minute taxi drive in Sofia should cost you between €5 and €7.

If you’re going to stay in Bulgaria for any length of time, you can buy a decent used car here for as little as €1,500. A litre of gasoline costs €1.20.

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