Bulgaria🇧🇬
At a Glance
How Bulgaria compares across key indices
Cost of Living
42 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
88/100
Healthcare
62/100
Quality of Life
160/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Bulgaria
Cost of Living
42
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
32
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
42
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
44
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in Bulgaria - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
88/100
Crime Index
4/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has 56 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $835 in Vratsa to $1,086 in Sofia. Vratsa leads on safety, scoring 92/100. Vratsa ranks highest for quality of life at 166/200.
Vratsa
$835/mo
Vratsa
92/100
Vratsa
166/200
Sofia
73/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia | $1,086 | 83/100 | 162/200 | 73/100 | 42 |
| Plovdiv | $919 | 88/100 | 164/200 | 64/100 | 34 |
| Varna | $917 | 88/100 | 164/200 | 64/100 | 34 |
| Burgas | $899 | 89/100 | 165/200 | 62/100 | 32 |
| Stara Zagora | $874 | 90/100 | 165/200 | 60/100 | 30 |
| Ruse | $874 | 90/100 | 165/200 | 60/100 | 30 |
| Pleven | $861 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 29 |
| Sliven | $859 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 28 |
| Pernik | $858 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 28 |
| Shumen | $852 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 28 |
| Dobrich | $850 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 28 |
| Blagoevgrad | $849 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 59/100 | 28 |
| Haskovo | $847 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 27 |
| Yambol | $847 | 91/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 27 |
| Veliko TÅrnovo | $843 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 27 |
| Pazardzhik | $840 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 27 |
| Asenovgrad | $839 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 27 |
| Vratsa | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Gabrovo | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Kazanlak | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Montana | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Kyustendil | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Kardzhali | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Dimitrovgrad | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Vidin | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Targovishte | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Dupnitsa | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Gorna Oryahovitsa | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Petrich | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Smolyan | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Karlovo | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Svishtov | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Silistra | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Razgrad | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Sandanski | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Lovech | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Asparuhovo | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Samokov | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Sevlievo | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
| Nova Zagora | $835 | 92/100 | 166/200 | 58/100 | 26 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Bulgaria
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Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Bulgaria
Pollution Index
34/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
17.1ug/m3
Moderate
Environmental Quality
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Bulgaria, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has a cost of living index of 42 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $874 in Stara Zagora and reach $1,086 in Sofia.
What is the cheapest city in Bulgaria for expats?
Stara Zagora is the most affordable city in Bulgaria in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $874 for a single person including rent. Ruse is the next most affordable at $874/mo.
Is Bulgaria safe for expats?
Bulgaria has a safety index of 88/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Stara Zagora scores highest on safety at 90/100.
What is the best city in Bulgaria for expats and digital nomads?
Stara Zagora ranks highest for quality of life in Bulgaria, scoring 165/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $874/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria scores 62/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is Bulgaria cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Bulgaria's cost of living is roughly 58% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 68% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has a pollution index of 34/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Before You Go
Your pre-departure checklist for Bulgaria
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Cost of Living
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Cost of living, safety, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates modeled from open public sources. Data sources
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