A lot of people describe Bansko as a small outdoor paradise. The law is strict when it comes to drink-driving, with almost zero tolerance (0.05 percent blood-alcohol limit) and you could face losing your licence and even jail time. Read More Stories on Our Expat Life Page Get New Posts and More Straight to Your Inbox With the Robe Trotting Newsletter. You can literally do anything you want on a shoestring budget. The cost of living in Bulgaria is $739, which is 1.32 times less expensive than the world average. People from Bulgaria can dance! If youre moving to Bulgaria, currently living in Sofia or just curious about living abroad, leave you questions for Allison below in the comments. Registering my business in Bulgaria was a total headache. You can visit its magnificent mountains, take a trip to the seaside where the cities never sleep or explore its authentic and traditional old villages. Bulgaria ranked 120th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 52nd best country to live in. But yes, Bulgaria is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come (back) and contribute. Tips For Your Life in Bulgaria, Best Info and Advice for Expats. The city didn't resonate with me immediately, but after a few weeks of staying in Sofia, I slowly began to fall in love with all that it had to offer. While Sofias main sights can be seen pretty much within the time it takes to do the citys free walking tour, theres a lot more to Sofia beneath the surface that people dont often get to see when they do a whistle-stop tour through the Balkans, spending just one or two days in Sofia. Naturally enough a low cost of living is a massive draw. There has always been a bit of friendly competition between Varna and Burgas locals when it comes to which city is better. 8- Bulgarian Cuisine: Thats why food is amazing a Balcan mixture that produces an interesting cuisine that relies on fresh vegetables during the summer, like Chopska Salad (on the picture) and Tarator soup, the traditional cold cucumber soup, more strong dishes for the winter time: baked Pork with sourekraut. Its very useful to consider the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria before you move, but you need to spend an extended time exploring before you commit to your relocation. Kiss were supposed to play their final show in 2021, but pandemic delays to the lengthy final . This country was established in 681 A.D. and has survived things you wouldnt imagine, they also are the inventors of the Bulgarian alphabet that through the centuries expand to most of the Slavic countries, they even have a day for celebrating the Bulgarianalphabet and culture, its on the 24th of May, you will see student take the streets with their parade. She runs her own digital content consultancy, Locke Digital. Private health cover is highly advisable and, although plans are expensive in comparison to the cost of state medical treatment, they are still cheaper than in other countries. Its great that I can walk around Sofia wearing the clothing I feel comfortable in and not have to worry so much about men harassing me on the streets. There are eight municipalities in Dobrich and they all deserve consideration. To keep informed, check ourLiving In Europe After Brexit guide on a regular basis. Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! I shop in malls more often than boutiques, and supermarkets more often than the farmers markets and specialty markets I used to be able to find all over NYC. 10- We can set aside a paragraph about local wine and Rakia (kind of Brandy), the climate allows grow grapes for homemade wine preparation, and fruits especially plums and apricots for Rakia, many people have their own small distillery at home, but lately, the government is trying to cut down moonshine production, not sure it is working anyway. The city has a surprisingly diverse group of expats living here: a handful of Americans, a ton of Europeans (mostly Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and British), a decent-sized African community, and even a number of Brazilians (of whom my husband is one!). New pieces of beautiful street art adorn the walls unexpectedly, discovered on your daily walks. They attract a very good salary which they can live on here exceptionally well, especially if they work remotely for a company from abroad. I lived and travelled through East European countries from age 18 till 25, many decades ago. 13- Most young educated Bulgarians generally speak English and are so helpful and a pleasure to be around. Dobrich is another attractive area for expats who choose to live in Bulgaria. 4-Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. In addition, Kapana (The Trap), Plovdivs creative district attracts people of all ages with art and creativity. 2. Its worth noting that renting in Burgas is cheaper, with a difference of around 40% in prices. Bulgaria is wonderful! Summers can touch 35 or even 40 in some areas like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria. Plovdiv - the new go-to for digital nomads and expats 3. The cost of living will surprise you. The Ups and Downs of Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fitting in as an Expat Living in Bulgaria, Day to Day Life While Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Getting Around the City and Finding Housing, The Cultural Differences of Living in Bulgaria. But do think about this aspect of your relocation carefully and well in advance of you committing to move. With its relatively mild climate, Bulgaria is pleasant all year round. This means that its an authentic country, where you really will experience a totally different way of life. Another thing thats given me culture shock is how Bulgarians nod their yes but mean no, and vice versa! As an EU country, standard EU rules apply to removals; do note you may need to list serial numbers and brands for all electrical appliances. There were a lot of tears and several meltdowns along the way, but eventually we registered our company in Bulgaria. So, what are the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria? I first came to Sofia, Bulgaria in August of 2017. Its also worth noting that there is an evident segmentation of elite and non-elite schools in the state-run school system, which can create certain communication problems with peers from other schools. I guess its best kept under wraps. Dealing with those could literally shorten your life span! Our most popular evergreen guides are kept fresh and up-to-date by our in-house research team. But to settle well you must truly integrate into the community and learning the language properly is a must. Plovdiv is a good place to live for all ages. Its a city of central location and is extremely close to Varna and Balchik. You can comfortably walk around the towns streets at 3 AM knowing that youre completely safe. The language barrier dealing with anything bureaucratic or institutional is frustrating, and the infrastructure is a little dated and needs a lot of love. But if you would like to appreciate the beautiful landscape and have enough time, you can take the slow train service, you can pass from the mountains to the Black Sea coastline in a couple hours and in between, you will find beautiful valleys. 0. You dont have to worry if you fall ill in Sofia the city has great hospitals and medical clinics to keep your health in check. (Which is not done for the general population) So, yes, I wonder why no mention of the above was made in the cons section about living in Bulgaria? She likes to travel and goes on weekend trips across the country as often as possible. The women here generally have dark features, black hair, sallow skin, brown and blue eyes with amazing figures. As the country is becoming more popular with expats, they discover other locations as well. This will give you access to a GP, referrals to a specialist, and medicines at reduced prices or for free. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 - 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 - 340. You will definitely be valued as an immigrant or an expat. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. We hope that this guide will come in handy and will help you choose the best place that will meet your expectations. Suzanne Locke is a lifestyle, expat and personal finance writer based in Surrey, England. I am from Sydney, Australia and I am looking at moving to Europe in the next 12 months. It was a nightmare though, and my lawyers were really awful at helping me navigate it, so possibly I could have had a better experience with a different lawyer. Bulgarian state-run schools often operate with outdated equipment and old material bases. Expats often choose Haskovo as a popular Bulgarian place to live in as it offers the comfort and cosiness of the small town but its also extremely close to Plovdiv, where you can quickly travel to. A hate crime is a criminal offence in Bulgaria, and perpetrators receive stricter punishments than those who commit a regular crime. Today, the city is an important centre for transport, culture, and education, with more than 400,000 residents. Its just nice to know that you also have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your eyes. Im planning to move to Bansko in about 3 years. Cost of living in Sofia is the best part of being based here! Its a small town nestled at the foot of the Pirin mountains, with a low cost of living making it attractive to those ski fans otherwise eyeing up France, Italy and Switzerland. Rent in Bulgaria on averageis 74.06% lower than in the UK. As one of Europes cheapest countries, there is so much to experience and explore, so much history to dig into, and so much beauty to see. Housing in Bulgaria. Of course, there are also a ton of options to choose from when it comes to dining out in a fancy and highly rated restaurant. It attracts a lot of retired expats thanks to its calm vibes and relaxing environment. A country house in a remote village could be yours for as little as 20,000 and you could heat it for around 70 a month, half the price it would cost you in the UK. I run several travel blogs, including one focused on Bulgaria and the Balkans, and I make a living for myself that way and by occasionally taking on freelance writing projects or other sponsored work. The average salary as of December 2020 in Bulgaria is around 1500 leva(657.10 / $915.49). From visas to housing to the cost of a kebab this helpful guide should give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria. You may need to renounce your UK citizenship, depending on your. Back ) and contribute UK citizenship, depending on your daily walks friendly! Location and is extremely close to Varna and Balchik and well in advance of you committing move. To which city is an important centre for transport, culture, and education, with More 400,000! Content consultancy, Locke digital nod their yes but mean no, medicines! Regular basis in the UK renounce your UK citizenship, depending on your walks... Culture shock is how Bulgarians nod their yes but mean no, and vice versa the alternative of food... 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