Cost of living in Bulgaria
The cost of living in Bulgaria runs at about 47% of US prices, and the official poverty line for a person living alone was €5,317 a year in 2025.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~47% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Poverty line, Bulgaria
- €443/mo (about $500) Official, household of 1, 2025 survey. Eurostat; National Statistical Institute. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- Up to 10% Flat 10% at most. PwC Tax Summaries; US-Bulgaria tax treaty. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Build your Bulgaria budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's poverty line, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official poverty line
Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute publishes a poverty line every year from its survey of household income. In 2025 it was 866.67 leva a month per household member, or €5,317 a year for a person living alone, shown here as a month. The line is higher in the Sofia district, at 1,304 leva a month, and in Varna, at 977 leva.
| Area | 2025 survey |
|---|---|
| Bulgaria (national poverty line) | €443 (about $500) |
Eurostat; National Statistical Institute. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Bulgaria?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above.
Is Bulgaria cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Bulgaria at about 47% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is Sofia more expensive than the rest of Bulgaria?
Yes, by the official measure. In 2025 the poverty line was 1,304 leva a month in the Sofia district and 977 leva in Varna, against 866.67 leva nationally.
How much money do I need to retire in Bulgaria?
The pensioner permit asks for means of at least the national minimum, such as the €620 minimum monthly wage in 2026. Bulgaria's poverty line for a person living alone was €5,317 a year in 2025, about €443 a month.
