Expat Guide: Living In Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a popular destination amongst digital nomads and budget travelers.

In fact, since 2020, more and more nomads decided to move to Bulgaria, especially to Bansko, a trendy digital nomad hotspot for outdoor lovers.

I, myself, decided to move to Bulgaria in 2020 with my partner.

I’ve had been thinking about it for a couple of years already, and with everything that happened, it just made sense to me to move there. 

There are several reasons why I wanted to move to Bulgaria.

• The affordable cost of living (which compares to Southeast Asia)
• The cost of buying a property is low
• The digital nomad community
• The mountain life

So, what is it like for expats in Bulgaria?

In this post, I’ll tell you all about the best places to live in Bulgaria for expats, the cost of living in Bulgaria, and everything you’ll need to know to move and live in Bulgaria.

How To Move To Bulgaria | Bulgaria Visa

Many passports allow you to have visa-free entry into Bulgaria. I’d suggest you take a look at this website to see if you need a visa in order to enter Bulgaria.

The general rule of thumb here is that you’ll get 90 days every 180 days. It’s exactly the same as the Schengen zone, except that it isn’t in the European Schengen zone. 

This goes for European citizens too, but they can apply easily for long-term residency or simply signal their will to stay longer than 90 days to the Immigration office. 

Otherwise, there’s this thing called a D visa, which you can apply for from your country if you intend to stay long-term.

You may want to consult a lawyer who specialized in residency if you wish to make sure to know all your options.

Most lawyers can join you when you apply for a residency in Bulgaria, so they can also act as a translator for you.

Want to learn more? Read this guide about Bulgaria’s digital nomad visas.

Best Places To Live In Bulgaria For Expats

Bulgaria offers lots of great destinations for travelers and nomads, but it seems like there are three main spots where we end up going.  

If you are wondering where to live in Bulgaria, here are the top three cities to live in Bulgaria as an expat.

Alternatively, if you prefer living by the beach, take a look at the best beach destinations in Bulgaria.

Bansko

Bansko is a small town located about two hours from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It’s a ski town, which means it’s surrounded by mountains.

There are now a few coworking spaces in Bansko, which makes it ideal for digital nomads.

This is where we live in Bulgaria. We love Bansko for the mountain life, the hot springs, and the delicious food.

There’s a big expat community in Bansko and the city has been evolving a lot since we moved there in 2020.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is one of the popular spots amongst tourists in Bulgaria. It’s known for its beauty and charming vibes.

It’s probably one of the prettiest cities in Bulgaria. It’s a great option if you wish to walk around the town easily.

Sofia

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. It’s, definitely, the most convenient place to be since you can use public transport to get around the city.

Most expats opt for Sofia as a base in Bulgaria.

Read about the best coworking spaces in Sofia to learn more.

How To Get A SIM Card

Getting a SIM card in Bulgaria is pretty straightforward and affordable.

I recommend not buying one at the airport, but instead, head to one of these shops: A1, Yettel, or Vivacom.

You can get a top-up plan for less than 10 euros a month.

Read our guide to learn more about Bulgaria SIM cards.

Read our guide to learn more about Internet in Bulgaria.

Renting A Car In Bulgaria

While you can walk around town and use public transportation for longer distances, we opted for a car rental when we arrived in Bulgaria.

If you intend to buy a car eventually, having a rental car until then is a great idea to get around.

Here are two rental companies in Bulgaria you can rely on:

• Top Rent A Car 
• Low-Cost Cars

Depending on the seasons, the prices can vary. We used the first option for several months.

They are located right at the airport in Sofia, which is very convenient, and we could extend our rental via email without having to go to Sofia all the time.

How To Find An Apartment In Bulgaria

There are a few ways to find a long-term apartment rental in Bulgaria. You can either join Facebook groups or look on Airbnb.

Long-term rent for 6-12 months is cheaper than if you’re renting short-term. But, note that you may need to give a deposit.

If you’re planning on moving to Bansko, you can take a look at apartments on this Facebook page.

You can also find an apartment here – this website works in collaboration with Coworking Bansko which is the most popular coworking space in Bansko.

Another option is to get in touch with an apartment agent who can help you find an apartment in Bansko. This one is quite popular in Bansko.

How To Buy An Apartment In Bansko

If you’re considering moving to Bulgaria and settling down there, you can buy an apartment easily. In fact, Bulgaria is one of the most affordable places to buy property in Europe.

We bought an apartment in Bansko in 2020 for less than 30,000 euros. Although, you can find studios and one-bedroom apartments for less than 20,000 euros.

Now, some of these apartments will need some love and renovation, but you can find affordable workers around town.

Coworking Spaces In Bulgaria

Coworking spaces are becoming more popular in Bulgaria. You’ll find several options across the country.

Here are some great coworking spaces to check out.

Bansko

There are a few options in Bansko at the moment. 

The most popular one is Coworking Bansko which is great especially if you’re moving to Bansko alone. They organize several activities every week which is perfect to make new friends. They currently have 3 different locations.

Another option is AltSpace Coworking. This new boutique coworking space was created in 2020. The design is beautiful and there are lots of lights coming in. It looks a bit like a boutique café. They currently have 2 different locations.

Finally, the latest coworking space in Bansko is Nestwork. It’s definitely the most beautiful one. It’s a beautiful shared office with the best view of the mountain.  They recently opened a second location.

Sofia

Networking is a premium coworking space in Bulgaria. They have different locations across the country (also in Plovdiv).

It does look beautiful. You can also opt for a membership that includes both locations.

Plovdiv

Cat and Mouse Coworking is a boutique coworking space located in Plovdiv.

You can even rent a private office at their space which is ideal if you need a bit of privacy while working.

Laundry In Bulgaria

Many apartments come with a washing machine. If that’s not the case, you can always use the local laundry services which are affordable.

It’s similar to a few places in Southeast Asia where you can bring your laundry and pick it up the following day.

Food In Bulgaria

The food in Bulgaria is great. Most restaurants offer an affordable lunch menu option which means you can eat for just a few euros per meal.

You can also shop at grocery stores or online on eBag and cook at home to save money.

A cheap meal can be as cheap as 2-3 euros, while you can pay an average of 10 euros or so for a decent meal in many places.

Fitness In Bulgaria

There are several gyms across the country. If you pick a place like Bansko, you can hike during summertime and ski during winter, which is amazing if you’re active.

Here are the three main gyms in Bansko:

• Fenics Gym: this is an old-school gym, but this is definitely the cheapest one in town.
• FitBox: this is a boutique gym that opened in 2021.
• Grand Hotel: There’s a gym at the Grand Hotel. It’s more expensive, but it’s a great option that you can combine with a spa membership.

Is Bulgaria Expensive? | Cost Of Living In Bulgaria

The cost of living in Bulgaria is affordable. If you’re working online, you will be able to live comfortably and even start saving money.

In fact, it’s one of the cheapest countries to live in Europe.

Here’s a breakdown of expenses for one person for one month. 

*Note that these can vary depending on the size of your apartment and your needs/standards.

Also, you may need to pay for electricity if it’s not included in the rent.

To withdraw money or pay for goods in person or online, I usually use my Revolut card in Bulgaria. 

Bulgaria On A Budget

Living or traveling in Bulgaria on a budget can be done easily.

Here are some tips for living in Bulgaria on a budget:

• Buy groceries from the markets and grocery stores to cook your own food. The Sunday Market in Bansko is very cheap and you’ll find plenty of options for basic supplies such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and eggs.
• If you eat out, do it for lunch. Lunch menus can be as cheap as a few euros per meal. 
• Rent a studio. It will be easier to heat up during winter. You can also work from home or work at a coworking space (and save on the electricity bill that way).
• Walk around instead of renting a car. Just make sure to pick an apartment that has a good location to make your life easy.

Is Bulgaria Safe?

Bulgaria is a safe country. We never had any issues during our travels in Bulgaria or Bansko. We feel safe pretty much everywhere.

I’d say my main concern is on the road.

Drivers can be a bit crazy around here. So, be careful if you’re driving a car around Bulgaria.

Best Time To Visit Bulgaria

The best times to visit Bulgaria are the summer and winter. Bulgaria has four seasons, but the fall and the spring are not the best when it comes to the weather. 

If you’re on a budget, you’ll find that the fall and the springs are less busy, so you should be able to find better deals on car rentals and apartments.

Living In Bulgaria Pros And Cons

There are pros and cons of living in Bulgaria, so here are some things you should know before moving to Bulgaria.

Pros Of Living In Bulgaria

• Tap water is safe to drink. Although, many people prefer to buy a filter to increase the water quality.
• The cost of living is affordable, especially compared to Western Europe. The local currency is Lev (BGN). Eur 1 equals around LEV 2.
• You can pay by card in several places, although, in Bansko, payments by card are not always accepted, especially during the low season.
• Bulgaria is a great country if you’re into outdoor activities. For example, you have access to the beach on the Black Sea coast, and you have mountains in places like Bansko.
• There’s a big expat community making it easy for newcomers to make friends.

Cons Of Living In Bulgaria

• Bulgarian is a difficult language to learn. The alphabet is Cyrillic which can make it harder to learn. That said, English won’t get you far. If you do speak Russian, this will be easier for you to get around. As a tourist, you’ll be able to get by with English, but as an expat or an apartment owner, you’ll likely struggle at some point.
• Electric bills can be high, especially during winter, because many apartments are not properly isolated. If you rent an apartment, make sure there is an AC for heating because heating with an AC will be cheaper than with a space heater.
• Unfortunately, there’s still corruption in Bulgaria. Things are not always easy to resolve. Having good contacts can definitely help.
• Bulgaria is still a bit old-fashioned when it comes to bureaucracy. For example, opening a bank account as a foreigner can be very complicated, so you must be patient and expect several visits to get things done.

Final Thoughts On Moving to Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a great destination for outdoor lovers – mountains and beaches! I enjoy my life in Bansko, thanks to the mountains, the hot springs, the spa, and the delicious foods.

It can be hard at first, especially if you only speak English.

The culture is quite different too, and you can expect a different treatment if you don’t speak the local language.

It’s a wonderful destination to settle in if you’re a digital nomad looking for a great dose of nature.