Cost of Living in Bulgaria
A monthly budget
| Household | Living costs, excluding rent | Rent, city centre | Rent, outside the centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person, one-bedroom flat | €611 | €422 | €323 |
| Family of four, three-bedroom flat | €2,218 | €729 | €519 |
Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Bulgaria (updated 12 October 2026)1
These are national averages of prices reported by users of Numbeo, updated on 12 October 2026. They include smaller cities, so budgets in Sofia are higher; see Cost of Living in Sofia. Rents vary widely by city and district.1
Everyday prices
| Item | Average price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | €10.23 |
| Three-course meal for two, mid-range restaurant | €40.91 |
| Cappuccino | €2.24 |
| Milk, 1 litre | €1.61 |
| White bread, 500 g | €1.02 |
| Eggs, 12 | €3.11 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | €7.10 |
| Local transport, one-way ticket | €0.80 |
| Public transport, monthly pass | €25.05 |
| Basic utilities for an 85 m² flat, a month | €113.52 |
| Mobile plan with calls and 10 GB+ data, a month | €16.44 |
| Broadband, 60 Mbps or more, a month | €12.38 |
| Fitness club, a month | €30.27 |
| Private full-day kindergarten, a month | €500.85 |
| International primary school, a year | €8,540.73 |
Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Bulgaria (updated 12 October 2026)1
Petrol (Euro 95) cost €1.663 a litre on 5 October 2026, the fourth-cheapest in the EU; see Fuel.4
Rent and household bills
- Two-bedroom flats in Sofia were listed at about €905 a month in October 2026; see Residential Property.
- District heating in Sofia costs €73.30 per MWh from 1 July 2026; see Heating.
- Regulated household electricity prices rose by about 3% from 1 July 2026; see Electricity.
- Unlimited mobile plans start at €18.90 a month, and 200 Mbps fibre at €19.90 on promotion; see Phone and Internet.
Source: imot.bg: Two-bedroom flats to rent in Sofia, average of current listings; Energy and Water Regulatory Commission: Final district heating prices from 1 July 2026; Sofia Globe: Regulator approves 3.05% rise in household electricity prices; Melssa: Bulgaria’s mobile operators compared; Melssa: Internet and mobile plans in Bulgaria5,6,7,12,8
How the cities compare
| City | Cost of living index | Rent index |
|---|---|---|
| Sofia | 51.0 | 18.0 |
| Varna | 46.2 | 15.2 |
| Plovdiv | 41.2 | 11.1 |
| Burgas | 41.2 | 10.9 |
| Stara Zagora | 34.4 | 6.5 |
Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Bulgaria (updated 12 October 2026)1
Numbeo indices compare prices with New York, where both indices are 100. Sofia is the most expensive city, and its rents are well above those in Plovdiv, Burgas or Stara Zagora. City guides are on Regions.1
Incomes and spending
- The average gross monthly wage was €1,407 in the first quarter of 2026, up 12.7% on a year earlier.
- The minimum monthly wage is €620.20 in 2026.
- Bulgarian households spent BGN 12,661 (about €6,474) per person in 2025, 8.1% more than in 2024.
- Bulgaria was the cheapest EU country in 2025 for restaurants and hotels, transport services, and clothing and footwear.
Source: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market and incomes, first quarter of 2026 (PDF, Bulgarian); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, significant developments; Eurostat: Comparative price levels of consumer goods and services, 20259,10,2
Inflation
Consumer prices rose by 5.7% in the year to September 2026. Transport rose fastest, by 25.9%; restaurants and accommodation rose by 9.5%, housing and utilities by 5.4%, and food and soft drinks by 1.6%.3,11
Retirees and remote workers should read Retiring in Bulgaria and Digital Nomad Visa; the steps of a move are on Moving to Bulgaria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to live in Bulgaria per month?
Numbeo puts monthly costs at about €611 for a single person and €2,218 for a family of four, excluding rent, as of October 2026. A one-bedroom flat in a city centre adds about €422 a month on the national average, and more in Sofia.
Is Bulgaria the cheapest country in the EU?
Yes, by price level. Eurostat put consumer prices in Bulgaria at 63% of the EU average in 2025, the lowest of the 27 member states, and the cheapest for restaurants and hotels, transport services, and clothing and footwear.
How much is rent in Bulgaria?
National averages are about €422 a month for a one-bedroom flat in a city centre and €729 for three bedrooms. Two-bedroom flats in Sofia were listed at about €905 a month in October 2026.
Is Sofia more expensive than the rest of Bulgaria?
Yes. Sofia has the highest cost of living and rent indices of the Bulgarian cities on Numbeo, followed by Varna; Plovdiv, Burgas and Stara Zagora are cheaper, especially for rent.
What is inflation in Bulgaria in 2026?
Consumer prices rose by 5.7% in the year to September 2026, according to the National Statistical Institute. Transport rose fastest, while food prices rose by 1.6%.
Sources
- Numbeo: Cost of living in Bulgaria (updated 12 October 2026)
- Eurostat: Comparative price levels of consumer goods and services, 2025 (PDF)
- BTA: Annual inflation of 5.7% in September 2026 (NSI)
- Fuel-Prices.eu: Fuel prices in Bulgaria (EU Oil Bulletin)
- imot.bg: Two-bedroom flats to rent in Sofia, average of current listings
- Energy and Water Regulatory Commission: Final district heating prices from 1 July 2026 (in Bulgarian)
- Sofia Globe: Regulator approves 3.05% rise in household electricity prices
- Melssa: Internet and mobile plans in Bulgaria
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market and incomes, first quarter of 2026 (PDF, Bulgarian)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, significant developments
- Trading Economics: Bulgaria inflation rate (NSI data)
- Melssa: Bulgaria’s mobile operators compared
Figures checked 15 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.
