The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, 2. For a family of four, 3,200 lv (1,404/$1,941) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget. Most restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can have the special for about 56 leva. For people living in BiH: Istraivanje ekonomskog ponaanja u BiH i drugim zemljama Question Istraujemo kakve finansijske izbore prave stanovnici BiH i drugih zemalja. As an American, its really difficult, near impossible, to get a visa to live in Sofia unless you work for a company who sponsors your visa, study in the country, or start a business that hires at least 10 Bulgarians. Although Bulgaria is a member of the EU, they still have their own currency, Leva. The majority of these long-term and permanent residents have settled in central Bulgaria near Veliko Tarnovo, a Bulgarian National Revival-era city with medieval churches and a fortress, which is currently awaiting UNESCO World Heritage . I work entirely for myself the entire time Ive lived in Sofia. Its what I was doing before I came to Bulgaria, but now, I have more focus and purpose being based in one place. If youre considering retiring to Bulgaria, you really should start language lessons. The entire carefully crafted image of Eastern-Europe as a backwards, drab, gray, muddy, dangerous, poor little cousin of Western Europe isn't entirely true. As the country is becoming more popular with expats, they discover other locations as well. Bulgaria can provide you with very different experiences depending on whether you live in one of the cities, or in smaller towns and villages. We promise not spam your inbox The most popular ones include Balchik, Kavarna, Shabla, Kamen Bryag, Cape Kaliakra, and Durankulak. I've just spent six weeks in Bulgaria, it's about as East as Eastern Europe gets. 10 minuta, anonimno i nije dosadno! After 5 years, you have the right to apply for a permanent residence permit. Many people commute to Sofia from here. Enjoy the therapeutic mineral springs in Haskovo and the picturesque Kenana a magical oak forest that offers a large park, restaurants, tennis grounds, and recreational houses. Which for all intents and purposes soon wont be, due to the many children the states sponsors for them. Sofia - a capital full of wonders 2. American rock legends Kiss will hang it up, at least in the live sense, at the end of a fifty-year career when they play their final two shows on December 1 and 2 at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Bulgaria ranked 120th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 52nd best country to live in. 24.9%. Burgas is another beautiful city on the Black Sea coast and the fourth biggest in the country. Shes obsessed with doting on her 8-year-old Bulgarian rescue dog, Rocky, and planning her next trip. Contrast Bulgaria with somewhere like southern Spain or Cyprus for example, and youll know what we mean! but there arent perfect countries, you can feel miserable in a rich country and vice-versa, the important is to accept the things how they are, dont waste energy in what can be changed, and when you see a possibility to make the improvements, do it one at the time. Popovo the place where anyone can feel at home, 7. 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. a) Muslims - between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 19th century, Bulgaria was under rule of the Ottoman Empire (Islamic State) and she used the enslaved peoples (Bulgarians, Serbs, Greeks, Albanians, etc.) Your email address will not be published. I have a few local friends, but mostly Ive stuck to the expat community, as my husband works with mostly Portuguese people and my business partner here is American. Winters can be below -15. Its positioned on a high hill over the Yantra River and is home to an old town and a modern city centre. Other beneficial activities include language learning in a multicultural environment with modern and advanced methods and a rich pool of young, enthusiastic, and dedicated Bulgarian and foreign teachers. The Old Town is home to charming houses in the traditional old-style Bulgarian architecture. Living in Bulgaria: A Quick Guide for U.S. Expats. 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. To benefit from the cost of living your income should be above the Bulgarian average Romania has the fastest internet anywhere on the continent. Leslie Grantham: Bulgarias most famed Briton? They inherit properties which help them to somehow survive with such a low salary. This will give you access to a GP, referrals to a specialist, and medicines at reduced prices or for free. 3-low birth rates since Bulgarian families normally have one child, maximum two. New pieces of beautiful street art adorn the walls unexpectedly, discovered on your daily walks. Every expat has to at some point. The cost of living in Varna is similar to that of Sofia. 1. Keep an eye out for pickpocketing and scams. You can visit St. Anastasia Island, which is a small islet with a monastery and a lighthouse, lake Atanasovsko, lake Pomorie, and others. It will require more work to settle down than, say, Spain, but that work could pay off with a whole new lifestyle. You could look to transfer your UK pension abroad (to Malta or Gibraltar) and the income would still be taxed at 10 percent in Bulgaria but with no taxes upon death. As one of Europes cheapest countries, there is so much to experience and explore, so much history to dig into, and so much beauty to see. To be considered financially independent, your monthly income should at least be equal to the national minimum wage per month. Your email address will not be published. Summary of cost of living in Bulgaria. Healthcare in Bulgaria is universal and financed by compulsory health insurance contributions. The other reason for the decisions these people have made is the cost of living in Bulgaria. I rent an apartment for about 450 euro a month with my husband. If you're planning on moving to Bansko, you can take a look at apartments on this Facebook page. Homeless Man Murdered In Broad Daylight In St. Louis While Others Watch. What are the average living costs in Bulgaria? Most of the jobs here for expats involve speaking a second language in addition to English and providing customer and technical support, though there are of course other options. If you relocate to Bulgaria with the prospect of finding employment there you may find it very difficult to land yourself a job that will allow you to benefit from Bulgarias low cost of living. All the international coffee and fast food chains are here, Starbucks, KFC, Subway, McDonalds, etc, cost of living in Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. Its great that I can walk around Sofia wearing the clothing I feel comfortable in and not have to worry so much about men harassing me on the streets. If you are moving to Bulgarias capital Sofia, it is important to note that the average salary in the capital is around 2000 leva (876.13 / $1,220.66) for the same period. It makes calculating costs a breeze! In Bulgaria both boys and girls dress trendy and in tight-fitting clothing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. The economy and salaries are improving, in bigger cities the civic society has taken many steps forward too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The city is also rich in all types of necessary institutions and amenities to make your stay comfortable and stress-free. Authentic culture 5. 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. But to settle well you must truly integrate into the community and learning the language properly is a must. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria, Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria, 2. 8- Bulgarian Cuisine: Thats why food is amazing a Balcan mixture that produces an interesting cuisine that relies on fresh vegetables during the summer, like Chopska Salad (on the picture) and Tarator soup, the traditional cold cucumber soup, more strong dishes for the winter time: baked Pork with sourekraut. Read our Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat for a detailed overview of the most popular locations. Youll find plenty of horse-and-cart villages alongside the potholes in what is the EUs poorest member state. 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. 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. Bulgarias second city and Europes 2019 capital of culture. Veliko Tarnovo is another Bulgarian city with extreme history and cultural riches. Sinemorets, Bulgaria. Plovdiv - the new go-to for digital nomads and expats 3. 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. Tips For Your Life in Bulgaria, Best Info and Advice for Expats. The largest community is in the capital, Sofia. A lot of people describe Bansko as a small outdoor paradise. Spend any time checking forums and youll find fairly even numbers of British expats extolling Bulgarias virtues or hauling it over the coals. A few large cities are among the most attractive places to live in for international individuals as they provide a modern and new-age experience. But if you would like to appreciate the beautiful landscape and have enough time, you can take the slow train service, you can pass from the mountains to the Black Sea coastline in a couple hours and in between, you will find beautiful valleys. Find out what its like living in a new country and a new culture while traveling the world as a gay American couple. Em Shadows. A single person can do well with around 800 lv (349/$483), rent excluded. Tell us more about your life there ! There is also a tax-free allowance of 4,050 (3,460) per year. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 - 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 - 340. I live on the western side of Sofia, halfway between Lyulin (the largest communist block area) and the center. Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. Living in Sofia is a far cry from San Francisco, but wherever youre from and wherever you end up living you can find a way to make it home. The downside is that Varna is one of the more expensive cities in the country, however, it is still a lot cheaper than other European destinations. Living in the village, youll notice that its segmented into two main parts the one close to the cable car (a popular winter area) and the normal village, which is where most people prefer to live in spring, autumn and summer. The men tend to physically look after themselves well, that makes it a good place to look for your better half and get married if you still dont. When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian). Built on seven hills, it has a partially restored Roman stadium and an open-air Roman theatre, now used to stage open-air concerts and plays. Bulgaria definitely has several things that give you culture shock. They do not abide by any rules and enjoy a protected criminal lifestyle by virtue of being a minority . We live by a beautiful park thats often filled with litter. When it comes to buying, dont just rely on local friends to help with the language hire local, English-speaking notaries and attorneys. 11- Bulgarians are a very proud nation. Ad to these old cars and you can imagine yourself the result. For a single person, a good monthly budget would be 750 lv (327/$453). You wont get far without at least elementary Bulgarian and you should familiarise yourself with the alphabet. Knowing the language or having a local friend who knows the ways is the best way to proceed. March 1st, 2023 at 11:21am. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Bulgaria before you move there. They tend to be the ones who have a solid income in place, and who are willing to learn the local language and completely adapt. A monthly budget of 1,200 lv ($722/530) for a family or two will offer a perfect way of living, rent excluded. During the cold season, you can go skiing in popular ski resorts like Borovets, which is an hour and a half drive from the city. My building is new construction across the street from old communist blocks, so theres a bit of contrast in my neighborhood. The people are extremely kind and generous. 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. 5- Another thing that makes Bulgaria famous its the nice sandy beaches, and the warm water temperature of the Black Sea in the summer season, the beaches can vary from lively and sports-facilitated beach stripes to calm and beautiful campsites. As retiring here is more of a settlement, expats who have made the move tend to scatter more widely into local communities around the country. Well done Suzanne. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Follow us on on Twitter. before your trip. Registering my business in Bulgaria was a total headache. Renting will allow you to get familiar with the area and make sure it works for you all year round. Whenever I go out to a restaurant, its almost always in Oborishte! Bulgarian rules require immigrants to demonstrate they can support themselves financially, although the Bulgarian prime minister has publicly welcomed British migrants. 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. 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. So if your income comes from outside of the country and is of western standards then you can live in Bulgaria like a king. Retirees may find that their pension income goes far further in Bulgaria and they could benefit from a move as they will not be dependent on the local economy to provide them with a living. The cost of living will surprise you. Plovdiv doesnt have an underground but it does offer bus transportation to most parts of the city. Long-term rent for 6-12 months is cheaper than if you're renting short-term. 4-Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. It features links to official resources containing major Brexit information. You can choose your GP so most expats tend to choose a local and/or English-speaking doctor. She runs her own digital content consultancy, Locke Digital. 2-Bulgarias population is reducing fast. Of course, there are also a ton of options to choose from when it comes to dining out in a fancy and highly rated restaurant. Its very cheap, super reliable and very widespread. I joke that its bizarre that my circle in Sofia is an American, a Zimbabwean, and a Brazilian, but thats the reality! 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