Youll be astonished by the golden domes of one of the main symbols of Sofia the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was created after Bulgarias liberation. To be considered financially independent, your monthly income should at least be equal to the national minimum wage per month. 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. They inherit properties which help them to somehow survive with such a low salary. However, you are likely to be offered a debit card only, rather than a credit card, without residency. Haskovo is another small Bulgarian town, where expats can dive into a relaxed way of living where stress and a dynamic lifestyle wont thrive. Homeless Man Murdered In Broad Daylight In St. Louis While Others Watch. 6- Traveling inside the country is relatively easy because everything is close together, trip Sofia- Varna (one of the longer distances to travel is only 450 km.) Dobrich your first step to a magnificent experience, 8. However, it has not lived up to the bubble hype, with massive over-development, which has led to more tourism diversification into golf greens, climbing centres and spa hotels. The Old Town is home to charming houses in the traditional old-style Bulgarian architecture. Normally men and women in a family work and a lot of Bulgarians dont have mortgages. Im in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend who works in Sofia, Bulgaria. 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. Dont let the shivers get to you! Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. Place where they grow fruits and vegetables for their needs, its a tradition to go on weekends and on vacations to the small farm and work the land. You may need to provide a clean UK criminal record certificate. . And in my opinion is absolutely correct. The climate is pretty similar to that of Varna, offering the best of both summer and winter. Refurbishments are to be expected if you buy, but a common warning on forums is to get local advice and recommendations when it comes to builders and never to pay everything upfront. Just because Bansko is a popular ski destination doesnt mean that youll freeze living there. :D Cijenimo lina uea, dijeljenje upitnika i upvotes. Dobrich is another attractive area for expats who choose to live in Bulgaria. Your stay in Bulgaria as an expat could be extremely different based on where you choose to live. Em Shadows. You can draw the money out once the paperwork is done, we were informed. If youre wondering about where you want to spend your time as an expat retiree, Bulgaria is certainly among the top choices. 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. The Ups and Downs of Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fitting in as an Expat Living in Bulgaria, Day to Day Life While Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Getting Around the City and Finding Housing, The Cultural Differences of Living in Bulgaria. I am from Sydney, Australia and I am looking at moving to Europe in the next 12 months. Mobile phone packages are cheap for 25 leva you get unlimited calls to all networks with some GB internet. I first came to Sofia, Bulgaria in August of 2017. Thanks for this post! But yes, Bulgaria is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come (back) and contribute. 13- Most young educated Bulgarians generally speak English and are so helpful and a pleasure to be around. After divorcing, and having become familiar with the country and made friends, he himself moved to Bulgaria and bought an apartment, only returning to the UK shortly before his death in 2018. The cost of living in Varna is similar to that of Sofia. In our Living In Bulgaria guide, you can find more information on Bulgarian residency, banking, healthcare, and more. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Living in Bulgaria! Regardless of age, you cant really say youve been to Varna if you havent visited Cubo the most popular beach bar in the city. My biggest concern is finding a job with an American company there. Popovo - the place where anyone can feel at home 7. I decided to come back in February of 2018 and have been living here since making it about two and a half years now. Authentic culture 5. This country was established in 681 A.D. and has survived things you wouldnt imagine, they also are the inventors of the Bulgarian alphabet that through the centuries expand to most of the Slavic countries, they even have a day for celebrating the Bulgarianalphabet and culture, its on the 24th of May, you will see student take the streets with their parade. But there are also smaller towns that can give you that feeling of the perfect home you are looking for abroad. 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. Bulgaria uses the lev (plural: leva), which is pegged to the Euro at roughly 2:1. As in any other EU country, in Bulgaria, you will need EHIC to access public healthcare as a Bulgarian resident. You must put a minimum amount into the account for it to be opened, which differs depending on the area. They do not abide by any rules and enjoy a protected criminal lifestyle by virtue of being a minority . Plovdiv is considered Bulgarias cultural capital and carried the award for European Capital of Culture for 2019. 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. What are the average living costs in Bulgaria? (Which is not done for the general population) So, yes, I wonder why no mention of the above was made in the cons section about living in Bulgaria? There are certainly those expats who have made a very positive life change by moving to Bulgaria. 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, Expatras list of the cheapest countries to retire. 5. Winters can be below -15. 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. To benefit from the cost of living your income should be above the Bulgarian average There has always been a bit of friendly competition between Varna and Burgas locals when it comes to which city is better. 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. Bansko is a great destination for expats looking to enjoy a bit of hiking, skiing, cycling, and nature in general. Bansko may be popular for its natural riches but an interesting fact is that it also offers some of the fastest Internet! the fertility rate in Bulgaria is 1.43child per woman. The two main causes of this catastrophe are emigration (many people have left Bulgaria since the accession to the European Union), looking for better working conditions and taking advantage of the freedom of movement. Youll find plenty of horse-and-cart villages alongside the potholes in what is the EUs poorest member state. She spends her time running travel websites: Eternal Arrival, Sofia Adventures, and California Crossroads and co-hosting a weekly podcast about anxiety, Im Anxious About. Looking good always trumps feeling comfortable here. Dont be fooled by the common misconception that Bansko is simply a ski resort and thats it. Bulgarias cost of living is low only for those who earn above the average in the country. Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. 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. If you are the kind of person who takes a considered approach to relocation, who has spent time getting to know Bulgaria before moving permanently, you have good chances to adjust well to what is an undoubtedly very beautiful country. Just be careful if youre taking a walk to the bar with food in your hands. You can comfortably walk around the towns streets at 3 AM knowing that youre completely safe. Being the poorest and maybe the most corrupted EU member country takes some comfort away. To join the public healthcare system, you will need to register with the National Health Insurance Fund and pay compulsory contributions. The city is also rich in all types of necessary institutions and amenities to make your stay comfortable and stress-free. New pieces of beautiful street art adorn the walls unexpectedly, discovered on your daily walks. For people living in BiH: Istraivanje ekonomskog ponaanja u BiH i drugim zemljama Question Istraujemo kakve finansijske izbore prave stanovnici BiH i drugih zemalja. However, like any other place on earth, Bulgaria has its drawbacks. It is rare to find such a well considered and informative article that isnt trying to sell something. 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. Thankyou. Bulgaria definitely has several things that give you culture shock. Its the cheapest and fastest way to securely transfer money overseas. So while I cook for myself a lot because I love to do it, I often order delivery and indulge that way, and I enjoy going out to different restaurants around the city. For retirees, its also the perfect place for a walk by the sea during the day. 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. Cost of living in Sofia is the best part of being based here! 12- Bulgarian people was described as outrageously beautiful. Plovdiv doesnt have an underground but it does offer bus transportation to most parts of the city. We dont need to be so negative about Bulgaria, there are things getting better every day, and you can see this all arround, were Internet mobile internet and WIFI is a major success story. Renting a property in Plovdiv is more affordable when compared to Sofia. 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.