Cost of living in Bulgaria: Your guide

Whether you’re interested in its history or you’re a nature enthusiast, Bulgaria won’t disappoint either way. Paired with the well-known Balkan friendliness, this country is bursting with potential, which is why many expats choose it as their home.

In this guide, we’ll explain everything about the cost of living in Bulgaria. We’ll also get into the average salaries and highlight major Bulgarian cities to help you decide where to live.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders from Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Bulgaria for low fees* at the mid-market exchange rate.

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The currency in Bulgaria

The official Bulgarian currency is the euro. Bulgaria adopted the euro and joined the eurozone on 1st January 2026, replacing its former currency, the Bulgarian lev.

To find out how many euros you can get for your pounds, use our currency converter.

Spend like a local in Bulgaria with Wise

If you’re looking to save money while relocating to Bulgaria, you can start by considering currency exchange. Unfavourable exchange rates and conversion fees can add up to a significant portion of your expenses.

Open a Wise account and send money between the UK and Bulgaria for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. You can hold and exchange between 8+ currencies in your account, including pounds and euros.

You can also get a Wise card for a one-time cost of £7 and use it in Bulgaria and 150+ countries. Whenever you spend, your pounds are converted to the local currency automatically, with only a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

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Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to the UK

Living in Bulgaria doesn’t cost nearly as much as living in the UK. Mercer’s annual cost of living list places Sofia on the 162nd place price-wise, while the UK capital is at number 8 with higher expenses.¹

The following chart shows some Bulgarian prices compared to UK ones, in euros:

Major cities in Bulgaria

The largest and most populous city is Sofia. Since that means more job prospects, this makes it the number one expat location. Sofia is full of green areas and the residents are very laid back, so you won’t feel the chaos of a big city.

Sunny Beach is ideal for those who need their daily dose of UV rays to feel good. It’s a vibrant holiday destination, but it can be a permanent spot for expats who want to experience the coast. The cost of living in Sunny Beach is another advantage, because the monthly expenses are low.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe, but it has a very youthful spirit. Many would describe it as hipster and great for artists and creative people in general. It’s cheaper than Sofia and it has a lot of English speakers, so foreigners love staying there.

What are general living expenses like in Bulgaria?

What are the average salaries in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a member of the EU, but average salaries are lower than in Western Europe. However, the cost of living in Bulgaria is also significantly lower.

The pay depends on the position and the city, but here are some average numbers:

How expensive is housing and accommodation in Bulgaria?

Rent costs in Bulgaria aren’t high for expats who come from richer countries. Here are some average prices:

What about healthcare and dental costs in Bulgaria?

The good news is that all residents, both Bulgarians and expats, get very cheap healthcare that all citizens contribute to. If you’re self-employed, you’ll pay 8% of your annual salary before tax each month. If you have a regular job, your employer will cover more than half of those costs.¹⁰

Emergency care is provided free of charge, while other services such as GP visits or hospital stays require a small copayment. There is no set cost for dental treatments and fees fully depend on the specialist.¹⁰

Some categories of residents are exempt from paying healthcare costs, including those who have recently given birth or cancer patients.¹⁰

How much are travel and transportation costs in Bulgaria?

If you’re travelling through Bulgaria, you can choose between air and land transport. The train and bus networks are well developed and popular, especially due to their low prices.

Let’s see the average cost of using public transport, taking a taxi and filling up the tank in Bulgaria:

Study costs in Bulgaria

Compared to western Europe, the price of studying in Bulgaria is affordable. For example, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes cost between €3,000 and €4,000 per year on average, while degrees in specialised fields like medicine cost up to €8,000 per year.¹²

EU citizens pay lower tuition fees in Bulgaria compared to other international students.¹²

Save on your relocation costs to Bulgaria with Wise

Even though Bulgaria isn’t expensive compared to the UK, you still don’t want to waste your money. Wise allows you to make the most of your earnings by ensuring you get a cost-effective and transparent deal.

If you’re looking for a way to cover moving expenses or living costs in Bulgaria, Wise can be a great option. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Bulgaria for low, transparent fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

You can also spend in euros using your Wise card. It works in more than 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee*.

Get your Wise card 💳

Sources used:

1. Mercer - cost of living city ranking
2. Numbeo - cost of living in London
3. Numbeo - cost of living in Manchester
4. Numbeo - cost of living in Edinburgh
5. Numbeo - cost of living in Sofia
6. Numbeo - cost of living in Varna
7. Numbeo - cost of living in Plovdiv
8. Zaplatomer.bg - salaries in Sofia
9. Zaplatomer.bg - salaries in Plovdiv
10. Gov.uk - healthcare in Bulgaria
11. Numbeo - cost of living in Bulgaria
12. Europe Study - studying in Bulgaria

Sources last checked on date: 14-Jan-2026