Cost of living in Bulgaria – 2011
With the following article we would like to help everyone who is considering a property purchase in Bulgaria and would like to know what the standard of life here is. You hear from everywhere that it is cheap in Bulgaria and that investing your money in a property in this picturesque country is a wise decision, but it is hard to believe without being familiar with real digits.
Here you can see the prices of main products and services for 2011.
Food prices:
Bread – 1lv/ 800gr
Eggs – 0.20lv/ 1piece
Milk – 1.70lv/ 1l
Yogurt – 0.60lv/ 500gr
White cheese – 5.70lv/ 1kg
Yellow cheese – 12.00lv/ 1kg
Sausages – 6.50lv/ 1kg
Vegetable oil – 3.60lv/ 1l
Vinegar – 0.70lv/ 1l
Salt – 0.50lv/ 1kg
Sugar – 2.40lv/ 1kg
Chicken – 4.50lv/ 1kg
Pork meat – 8.00lv/ kg
Fish – 6.00lv/ 1kg of scad
Olives – 4.00lv/ 1kg
Honey – 5.00lv/ 500gr
Chocolate – 1.20lv/ 500gr
Ice cream – 1.20lv/ 200gr
Baby Puree – 1.10lv/ 120gr
Fruits and Vegetables:
Tomatoes – 2.00lv/ 1kg
Cucumbers – 2.00lv/ 1kg
Beans – 3.00lv/ 1kg
Potatoes – 1.00lv/ 1kg
Bananas – 3.00lv/ 1kg
Oranges – 1.40lv/ 1kg
Drinks and Cigarettes Prices:
Mineral water – 0.80lv/ 1.5l
Coke – 2.40lv/ 2l
Juice – 2.00lv/ 1l
Coffee espresso- 2.60lv/ 200gr
Nescafe 3 in 1- 0.40lv/ 1cup
Spirit drinks – 10.00lv/ 1l
Wine – 4.50lv/ 0.700l
Cigarettes – 5.00lv/ 1pack – 20pieces
Prices of goods of daily demand:
Soap – 0.85lv/ 1piece
Shampoo – 2.50lv/ 200ml
Tooth paste – 1.50lv/ 1piece
Washing powder – 1.50/ 330gr
Communal taxes:
Electricity – 0.20lv/ 1kwh
Water – 1.70lv/ m3
Internet + landlines – 30lv/ month
Property government tax – 0.15% of the price of the property per year
Diesel – 2.50lv/ l
Petrol – 2.50lv/ l
Gas – 0.93lv/ l
A lunch for two – 20€ (starters, main courses, drinks, desserts, coffee)
Hairdresser services – 5-25€
Main electricity appliances:
TV – 37″ plasma TV – 300€
Fridge – 130€
Air-conditioner – cooling and heating – 300€
16 Responses to “Cost of living in Bulgaria – 2011”
November 24th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Very good indeed.
Many times requested infor but outragious prices quoted to me.
What is cost for mobile phone and a small car new if you can reply ?
Kindest regards,
Liam Bell
November 27th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thank you for the reply Liam! I am glad that you like my article.
The cheapest mobile phones here are with prices between 10 and 25 Euros. You can buy a new, small car for less than 8000 Euros. Second hand automobiles are very cheap and you can buy nice small car for less than 2000 Euros.
Best regards,
Lana
December 18th, 2009 at 1:41 am
I am soon to marry a russian lady, i am british. We are both mid 60s retired and have a joint pension of around £800 a month.
I have seen rental apartments, fully furnished, on long term for about 300eur a month, is this correct. My main question is, could we live comfortably in rented accomodation on thast income in Bulgaria.
Thank you Chris
January 7th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Hi Chris,
Thank you for contacting us! We can find you something suitable and will be glad to help you. We will contact you and discuss your preferences about size and location.
Lana
January 8th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Real Estate Bulgaria…
Your contributions are welcome! I would also like to encourage professionals such as real estate agents and developers to contribute to this forum. All contributors will receive acknowledgment and a link to back their own web site….
January 18th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
i have house in lom pension of 80 euro weekly will it be enough for simple life
January 20th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Hi David,
yes, I think it will be enough for simple life. Most of the retired Bulgarians live with half of your pension. Some even get some 100 euros per month…
And what is more…in the area of Lom people will be happy to work for a salary like your pension…
January 20th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
how would you go about getting medication in bulgaria if you lived there
January 20th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
can you get english speaking television and how
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Thank you for the interesting question Dav Idian!
Whether you’re living in Bulgaria or just visiting, the best thing you can do is to make health insurance for yourself and your family. If you have a holiday home and you are just visiting (for less than 3 months) you should check whether you qualify for free or subsidized health treatment in Bulgaria as part of a reciprocal health agreement between your home country and Bulgaria. If you don’t, you must choose between a private international health insurance policy and holiday/travel insurance.
If you are intending to move to Bulgaria, live and work here with your family, you and your family will be entitled to free or subsidized medical and dental treatment from the Bulgarian state system.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Hello again Dav Idian,
Here in Bulgaria you can choose between some local cable operator or one of the providers of Satellite Digital Video Broadcasting televisions. In both cases you will be able to watch a lot of channels in English.
March 31st, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Hi Lana
I’m coming for business in Bulgaria from middle of April until middle of May. Can you tell me how cold the spring is (I’m from south africa). Shouls i bring a pair of boots, coat etc. I would also like to go buy things like clothes at factory shops. Are there any good factory shops where I can buy clothes for example?
thanks
Si
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Hi Si,
My advice would be not to take your boots, because we have beautiful spring in Bulgaria. Some days might be raining, but not cold. You can also take your swimming suit if you are going by the sea, for the middle of May is almost summer.
Here you can find a lot of the popular European marks for clothes, mainly in big cities.
If you need anything else I will be glad to help. Have a nice time in our beautiful country!
Lana
September 24th, 2010 at 1:46 am
I am from India. I would like to know, what would be the average monthly salary for Software consultant in Bulgaria. If one family like Parents and One child lives comfortably , for that how much money they have to get. Further Cost of living in Bulgaria including Rent of house ,Medical and Education facilities and their expenses.
Career opportunities in Software field in Bulgaria
It will be great if i get the above details by anyone.
Thanks and regards,
Murty
October 29th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Hi, good article. Here you will find many properties for sale in Bulgaria.
June 24th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Hearing about the alternatives that you thought about, and didn’t choose might be a lot more beneficial. This way we would be seeing more of your own the thinking you had to do rather than (just) the final result