Costs
Operating Costs in Bulgaria
Labour, space and energy all cost less in Bulgaria than in most of the EU. Wages are rising fast, but an hour of work still costs employers about a third of the EU average.
- Class A warehouse rent in Sofia, per m² a month
- €6.005
- Class A warehouse rent in Sofia, per m² a month
- Electricity for business per kWh, H1 2026, excl. VAT
- €0.1457
- Electricity for business per kWh, H1 2026, excl. VAT
Staff
| Average gross wage | €1,444 a month, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Information and communication | €3,079 a month, the highest-paid sector |
| Minimum wage | €620.20 a month in 2026 |
| Employer contributions | 18.92% to 19.62% on pay up to €2,300 a month |
| Hourly labour cost | €12.0 in 2025, against €34.9 in the EU |
Source: BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026 (NSI); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes; Eurostat: Labour cost levels by country, 2025 (lc_lci_lev)2,3,1
See the fact sheet on salaries and labour costs for comparisons with other EU countries.
Offices in Sofia
| Class A rents | €14 to €18 per m² a month |
|---|---|
| Prime, city centre | About €20 per m² a month |
| Vacancy | 11.6% of 2.36 million m², Q2 2026 |
| Under construction | 203,000 m², about 85,000 m² due by the end of 2026 |
Source: Cushman & Wakefield Forton: Sofia office MarketBeat, Q2 20264
Rents are quoted per month without VAT; service charges come on top.
Warehouses and industrial space
| Class A logistics, Sofia | About €6.00 per m² a month |
|---|---|
| Class B | About €4.50 per m² a month |
| Service charges | About €0.80 to €1 per m² a month |
| Vacancy, Sofia | 0.6%, Q2 2026 |
Source: BTA: Sofia industrial and logistics space, H1 2026 (Colliers); International Investment: Bulgaria’s property market enters a more mature phase (H1 2026); Cushman & Wakefield Forton: Sofia industrial MarketBeat, Q2 20265,11,6
Almost no space stands empty: three quarters of the space leased in Q2 2026 was let before the buildings were finished.6
Electricity for business
Source: Eurostat: Electricity prices for non-household consumers (nrg_pc_205)7
For a business using 500 to 2,000 MWh a year. The EU average was €0.184 in the second half of 2025.7
Gas for business
| Bulgaria | €0.044 per kWh |
|---|---|
| Romania | €0.054 per kWh |
| Germany | €0.068 per kWh |
| EU average, H2 2025 | €0.061 per kWh |
Source: Eurostat: Gas prices for non-household consumers (nrg_pc_203)8
First half of 2026, for a business using 10,000 to 100,000 GJ a year, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes.
Prices and taxes
- Consumer prices were 56.9% of the EU average in 2024, the lowest in the EU, and construction prices 69.2%.
- Profits are taxed at 10%, dividends at 5% and VAT is 20%; see the fact sheet on taxes.
- A single ride on the Sofia metro costs €0.80.
Source: Eurostat: Price level indices, 2024 (prc_ppp_ind); Visit Sofia: Metro tickets9,10
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does labour cost per hour in Bulgaria?
Labour cost per hour in Bulgaria was €12.0 in 2025, compared with an EU average of €34.9. This is the employer labour cost, rather than an employee’s gross hourly wage.
What is the average wage in Bulgaria in 2026?
The average gross wage in Bulgaria was €1,444 a month in Q2 2026. The minimum wage was €620.20 a month in 2026, while information and communication was the highest-paid sector, at €3,079 a month.
How much does office space cost in Sofia, Bulgaria?
Class A office rents in Sofia were €14 to €18 per m² a month in Q2 2026. Prime city-centre rent was about €20 per m² a month; rents are quoted without VAT, and service charges come on top.
What are warehouse rents in Sofia, Bulgaria?
Class A logistics space in Sofia cost about €6.00 per m² a month, while Class B space cost about €4.50, in Q2 2026. Service charges were about €0.80 to €1 per m² a month, and vacancy was 0.6%.
How much does business electricity cost in Bulgaria?
Electricity for a business using 500 to 2,000 MWh a year cost €0.145 per kWh in the first half of 2026, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes. The EU average was €0.184 in the second half of 2025.
What is the business gas price in Bulgaria?
Business gas in Bulgaria cost €0.044 per kWh in the first half of 2026, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes. This rate applies to a business using 10,000 to 100,000 GJ a year; the EU average was €0.061 per kWh in the second half of 2025.
Sources
- Eurostat: Labour cost levels by country, 2025 (lc_lci_lev)
- BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026 (NSI)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes
- Cushman & Wakefield Forton: Sofia office MarketBeat, Q2 2026
- BTA: Sofia industrial and logistics space, H1 2026 (Colliers)
- Cushman & Wakefield Forton: Sofia industrial MarketBeat, Q2 2026
- Eurostat: Electricity prices for non-household consumers (nrg_pc_205)
- Eurostat: Gas prices for non-household consumers (nrg_pc_203)
- Eurostat: Price level indices, 2024 (prc_ppp_ind)
- Visit Sofia: Metro tickets
- International Investment: Bulgaria’s property market enters a more mature phase (H1 2026)
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
