And young Bulgarians are friendly and open, happy to chat with someone and always a bit curious why a foreigner is living in Bulgaria. Being the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, Varna hosts thousands of tourists every year. Its located near the geographic centre of the country and is the midpoint between Varna and Sofia. Bulgaria is a place with many problems where life isnt easy. I rent an apartment for about 450 euro a month with my husband. A monthly budget of 1,200 lv ($722/530) for a family or two will offer a perfect way of living, rent excluded. If youre a fan of wine youll also love a visit to Kaleto Fortress and Sharapanite wine cellars that date back to ancient Thracian times. Bulgaria definitely has several things that give you culture shock. A lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia. Renting a property in Plovdiv is more affordable when compared to Sofia. I work entirely for myself the entire time Ive lived in Sofia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Varna - the perfect sea-side living 4. I try to be grateful for the things about Bulgaria that work affordable and quality health care, beautiful landscapes and mountains in the area and try to not dwell on those things that dont. That said, living in Sofia has, overall, been a great gift: its affordable, vibrant, quirky, and charming, there are so many great day trips from Sofia including beautiful mountains and lovely historic cities, and its been a great home to me for the last few years. Fruit and vegetables are for sale everywhere and are the most delicious. In this guide, well share with you some of the top places to live in the country as an expat. Bulgaria is a funny country it seems to have an almost equal number of expatriates happy ordisaffected with life in Bulgaria. A former journalist at Sky News and editor-in-chief for Yahoo, her work has appeared in various publications including Red Bull, The National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates and Expatra. You must register your residence in Bulgaria if you are planning to stay for over 90 days, within three months of arrival and either in the Migration Directorate in Sofia or in the nearest regional directorate. 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. However, if youre an EU citizen, moving to Sofia is a piece of cake, and it will require dealing with some grumpy migration officers, but its nothing more than some basic paperwork (albeit in Cyrillic) at the end of the day. The percentage of homeownership in Bulgaria is very high, but if you're moving to the country for the first time as an expat, it's probably best to start with renting.If you start renting, you can test out different cities and see which one you prefer, then once you start to settle down, you can think about making a more permanent investment. A lot of educated Bulgarians work in the IT and outsourcing sector which is huge 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. This means that its an authentic country, where you really will experience a totally different way of life. 14- There is still poverty in Bulgaria. Living in Bulgaria! 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. The locals are friendly and speak good English, making it easy for expats to get around. But, note that you may need to give a deposit. This charming city is home to many expats, from students studying in the prestigious Medical University to retirees seeking the comfort of a beautiful and fulfilling city by the sea. Family of four estimated monthly costs: $2,423 (4,494 ) Single person estimated monthly costs: $992 (1,841 ) Bulgaria is the 4th cheapest country in Eastern Europe (8 out of 11) Cost of living in Bulgaria is cheaper than in 80% of countries in the World (63 out of 79) In Sofia, I largely get around by car and by taxi, since I now live a bit outside the center. 1 Euro. Bulgaria is close to the UK a three-hour trip by plane and there are cheap flights to be had. The average salary as of December 2020 in Bulgaria is around 1500 leva(657.10 / $915.49). a) Muslims - between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 19th century, Bulgaria was under rule of the Ottoman Empire (Islamic State) and she used the enslaved peoples (Bulgarians, Serbs, Greeks, Albanians, etc.) Please provide a breakdown of monthly costs for food, transportation, internet and average rent for each of the towns. 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!). Its just nice to know that you also have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your eyes. Its bizarre to see someone repeatedly shaking their head but actually agreeing with you, and it can definitely cause some confusion with locals. Bulgaria is a country withvery affordablehotels, restaurants and home appliances compared to the rest of the European Union. Contrast Bulgaria with somewhere like southern Spain or Cyprus for example, and youll know what we mean! Healthcare in Bulgaria is universal and financed by compulsory health insurance contributions. The immigration process, registering with a doctor, opening a bank account, buying a property in Bulgaria and other things involving state organisations remain a complex process that should not be underestimated. Mobile phone packages are cheap for 25 leva you get unlimited calls to all networks with some GB internet. Plovdiv is a great place to live in for both locals and expats. You can enjoy a number of natural and manmade lakes around Popovo, you can go fishing, explore the birdlife of the region, or organize a camping weekend. Plovdivs Old Town is bound to steal your heart at a first glance. Bulgaria implemented ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement programme from 2012 until 2017.Bulgaria also took part in ODIHR's project on "Building a Comprehensive Criminal Justice Response to Hate Crime", helping to develop a joint training programme for police and prosecutors that was piloted in the country. In my neighborhood, cars park wherever they want to; you always have to look down or risk twisting your ankle on some busted piece of sidewalk. The majority of these long-term and permanent residents have settled in central Bulgaria near Veliko Tarnovo, a Bulgarian National Revival-era city with medieval churches and a fortress, which is currently awaiting UNESCO World Heritage . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. In Bulgaria they can afford a pretty affluent life. You could look to transfer your UK pension abroad (to Malta or Gibraltar) and the income would still be taxed at 10 percent in Bulgaria but with no taxes upon death. Especially during summer, Varna is a top destination, even for Bulgarians. Read More Stories on Our Expat Life Page Get New Posts and More Straight to Your Inbox With the Robe Trotting Newsletter. Bulgaria is a very safe country. Get to grips, too, with some Bulgarian etiquette: dont point your index finger, dont ever slap someone on the back, and remember that you nod no and shake your head for yes. To benefit from the cost of living your income should be above the Bulgarian average Thankyou Suzanne Locke! The small town is a brilliant place to live in all year long. The downside is that Varna is one of the more expensive cities in the country, however, it is still a lot cheaper than other European destinations. Population. The largest community is in the capital, Sofia. Bulgarias second city and Europes 2019 capital of culture. In fact, Bulgaria, in general, is well-known for its blazing Internet that allows you to easily communicate online whenever you want to. All the international coffee and fast food chains are here, Starbucks, KFC, Subway, McDonalds, etc, cost of living in Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. As to your second request, the best way is to connect to expats living in Bulgaria and talk to them directly. The majority of expats moving to Bulgaria consider living in Sofia first. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. Living in Popovo, youll soon start to feel as if all your neighbours are family. I am from Sydney, Australia and I am looking at moving to Europe in the next 12 months. Rent in Bulgaria on averageis 74.06% lower than in the UK. I hope it helped Jean, Allison did a great job sharing her experiences about life in Bulgaria . Looking good always trumps feeling comfortable here. 6 Times Cheaper than Old-school Bank Transfers, >>>USE THIS LINK FOR A FREE TRANSFER (up to 500 GBP/680 USD)<<<. When it comes to buying, dont just rely on local friends to help with the language hire local, English-speaking notaries and attorneys. as slaves, as in the Blacks in America in the 16-18 Century. However, it has not lived up to the bubble hype, with massive over-development, which has led to more tourism diversification into golf greens, climbing centres and spa hotels. The entire carefully crafted image of Eastern-Europe as a backwards, drab, gray, muddy, dangerous, poor little cousin of Western Europe isn't entirely true. Renting a property is relatively cheaper, especially if you choose a region outside the city centre. Unsurprisingly, well start from Sofia Bulgarias capital. If youre considering retiring to Bulgaria, you really should start language lessons. I've just spent six weeks in Bulgaria, it's about as East as Eastern Europe gets. 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. If you have not worked in Bulgaria, you should claim your UK State Pension by contacting theInternational Pension Centre. Nice articlethanks. Enjoy the therapeutic mineral springs in Haskovo and the picturesque Kenana a magical oak forest that offers a large park, restaurants, tennis grounds, and recreational houses. However, despite the flaws, living in Sofia has a lot of benefits. The city didnt 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. Another thing thats given me culture shock is how Bulgarians nod their yes but mean no, and vice versa! Its positioned on a high hill over the Yantra River and is home to an old town and a modern city centre. 3-low birth rates since Bulgarian families normally have one child, maximum two. its Just delicious, and national classic Bulgarian breakfast is coffee and a cigarette, joke, the traditional breakfast is at banitza filled with Bulgarian white cheese. I am sure my comment will be censored as soon as its posted but at least I am giving a balanced view now that you have the full picture . Based on that experience, here are my request for you response and updates to your great work that youve shared with us: Coffees are much cheaper here than in the rest of Europe. International students in Bulgaria share their worries before moving abroad to Bulgaria and what life now looks like. The mountains are stunning and the ski resorts are so breathtaking nothing to envy to any other country in the world. But yes, Bulgaria is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come (back) and contribute. Life is Not Like the Movies Everyone thinks of California as a hippie paradise with no stress and a serene culture. Looking forward to your inputs ! In some ways I feel like a local, but in most ways I still feel like an outsider. 4-Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. Its comfortably positioned in the eastern part of the Danube plain, in whats considered one of Bulgarias most fertile lands Dobrudja. Its 100% car-free, with small cosy stress and traditional Bulgarian houses. A hate crime is a criminal offence in Bulgaria, and perpetrators receive stricter punishments than those who commit a regular crime. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. You can also get a beer for 2 leva about a Euro. How to get Bulgarian Registration Plates For Your Car? The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Bulgaria to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. 7- Agriculture is probably what defines Bulgarian roots best. Bulgarias cost of living is low only for those who earn above the average in the country. Thankyou, you have provided me with the desire to explore deeper into the possibility of living in Bulgaria, Your email address will not be published. Im sure that women of color struggle a bit more with harassment, but I cant make any generalizations to their experience, as I only know what friends have told me about living or traveling in the region. Bulgaria is becoming ever more popular with expats for whom the cheaper cost of living and a good healthy lifestyle are a priority. The cost of living in Varna is similar to that of Sofia. One of the factors behind the outsourcing success. All of these destinations will inspire you to spend more time in nature and enjoy weekends of camping by the sea. Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! For a single person, a good monthly budget would be 750 lv (327/$453). Many of the expat city-dwellers are workers, and the city boasts a thriving start-up scene. Whats more, those who took their time exploring the nation before committing to one city, town or village based on only limited research have settled in more effectively. Its the perfect place to explore what nature has to offer and connect with our planet. Veliko Tarnovo a historically rich and truly beautiful city, 5. Built on seven hills, it has a partially restored Roman stadium and an open-air Roman theatre, now used to stage open-air concerts and plays. Whenever I go out to a restaurant, its almost always in Oborishte! Most restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can have the special for about 56 leva. They struggle to make the ends meet on their pensions in Britain so they choose to move to a more favourable environment in terms of cost. and that you can unsubscribe any time. Find out more about us HERE. Naturally enough a low cost of living is a massive draw. While there is a lot that Bulgaria has to improve upon in many aspects of social justice, catcalling is luckily not a major issue, at least for me as a cishet white woman who can blend in easily here. Summers can touch 35 or even 40 in some areas like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria. Other ski resorts include Pamporovo and Borovets. Once you have been resident in Bulgaria for five years, you canapply for Bulgarian citizenship. There are eight municipalities in Dobrich and they all deserve consideration. Do you have any insight as to recruiters/headhunters or employment agencies there who specialize in this sort of thing? But when I used to live in the center, I walked nearly everywhere. Hi Allison. Finally, Bulgarians can be very friendly and welcoming, and they can adjust well to having foreign residents within their community. 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. Bulgaria has aNet loss of one person every 11 minutes. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, 2. 15- Bulgaria has some fastest internet speed in the world, you get great value for money. Cost of living in Sofia is the best part of being based here! 11- Bulgarians are a very proud nation. I lived and travelled through East European countries from age 18 till 25, many decades ago. Living in the city, you can still feel the magnificent presence of the glorious fortress. Its located on the banks of the Maritsa river in the Thrace region, southeast of Sofia. Its completely natural to see deers, boards, rabbits, hares, and squirrels moving through the villages. Which for all intents and purposes soon wont be, due to the many children the states sponsors for them. Property prices in Bulgaria have settled down from their peaks following EU accession meaning that its possible to buy decent accommodation country-wide, (with the exception of a few exclusive suburbs in Sofia), for much less than you would pay in the UK for similar accommodation. Plovdiv doesnt have an underground but it does offer bus transportation to most parts of the city. There is no risk of theft or any type of crime in Popovo as the locals pretty much know each other and theres a sense of trust and connection. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Bulgaria before you move there. Theres so much to do in the city and nearby! 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. Bulgarian state-run schools often operate with outdated equipment and old material bases. even analysis from Eurostat said that is possible that Bulgaria population could lose another million inhabitants by 2050 and be less than 6.000 000. Required fields are marked *. Im planning to move to Bansko in about 3 years. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. It's not easy, but if you love Bulgaria, moving here and being active is the best thing you can do. Theres a great etiquette guide on the Bulgarian Embassy of London site. So what is it like to live in Bulgaria and how do you go about moving and settling down there? There are certainly those expats who have made a very positive life change by moving to Bulgaria. It is rare to find such a well considered and informative article that isnt trying to sell something. "In some ways I feel like a local, but in most ways I still feel like an outsider.". You will definitely be valued as an immigrant or an expat. For retirees, its also the perfect place for a walk by the sea during the day. Im struck with homesickness a lot of the time, even though I know that home is a deeply broken place, and Im terrified of whats happening in America on a public health, political, and moral level. HOW DO YOU TRANSFER MONEY INTERNATIONALLY? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria, Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria, 2. A popular tourist destination, Veliko Tarnovo contains an old spirit yet offers a modern experience at the same time. almost every family has their own 1000 sqm. 1. When driving in Bulgaria, carry your passport or ID card, driving licence, registration card, insurance documents and vehicle inspection card. While Bulgaria is developing slowly after rising up from its darker days of communism, the country still has a way to go in terms of being progressive. Perhaps our report on the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria will help and inspire you to move. Guys often wear skinny jeans and black Armani T-shirts, while girls go for equally tight pants and skirts with some sort of a designer tank top, be it Mango, Trussardi or Motivi. When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian). She spends her time running travel websites: Eternal Arrival, Sofia Adventures, and California Crossroads and co-hosting a weekly podcast about anxiety, Im Anxious About. You can safely leave your car unlocked and enjoy peace of mind knowing that nobody will touch it. Its what I was doing before I came to Bulgaria, but now, I have more focus and purpose being based in one place. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Just imagine living in another European city with this budget. Its a perfect location for expats who are fond of a green way of living and are looking forward to having the opportunity to move into a spacious house with a garden, where they can grow their own food and crops. The beaches along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast can be located in the resorts, which are normally crowded during the high season (July-august), but between the resorts, you can find hidden beaches that will amaze you, take your time go and see the country, you wont regret it! I was curious about Bulgaria from an American perspective and I appreciate how thoughtful you are. Its the cheapest and fastest way to securely transfer money overseas. The environment is extremely laid back and youll notice that everyone speaks English. Flat tax rates 2. Life as an expat in Popovo is an extremely affordable experience and wont burn a hole in your pocket in any way. For instance, students are mostly located in Student Town (Studentski Grad) or the central parts of the city, while retirees and families would probably prefer a more relaxing and calm place like Pancharevo, Bistritsa, or Boyana. It will require more work to settle down than, say, Spain, but that work could pay off with a whole new lifestyle. A single person can do well with around 800 lv (349/$483), rent excluded. Overall, Varna is a city that its hard not to fall in love with. Infrastructure (particularly roads and sidewalks) is bad, improvements to it are slow and slipshod, and these things which you overlook when you first move somewhere can grate on the nerves after a handful of years. To retire in Bulgaria, you'll need to apply for a Type D visa and a long-term residence permit, renewable every year. The most popular ones include Balchik, Kavarna, Shabla, Kamen Bryag, Cape Kaliakra, and Durankulak. Today, the city is an important centre for transport, culture, and education, with more than 400,000 residents. Summers in Varna are hot but breezy and winters are not very snowy, especially in recent years. Complete Guide to Living in Bulgaria. Read more in our full article, The Pros And Cons Of Living In Bulgaria. Recently, the city has become an attraction for digital nomads thanks to its vast range of suitable cafes and coworking spaces. Registering my business in Bulgaria was a total headache. You can literally do anything you want on a shoestring budget. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. The men tend to physically look after themselves well, that makes it a good place to look for your better half and get married if you still dont. If youre looking for a quieter pace of life, fresh produce and a beautiful beach-to-mountain backdrop at a lower cost than France or Switzerland, Bulgaria could be the ideal country for you. The scenery is just beautiful. You can either join Facebook groups or look on Airbnb. Our previous 1-bedroom apartment in the center had been 350 euro a month, and when my husband lived in a studio, he had a gorgeous one for just 220 euro a month. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Being aware of them before you relocate can make a huge difference to your overall experience. The Old Town is like an outdoor museum, full of old churches, mansions, and souvenir shops. You need to contrast the cost of living with what you can expect to earn in Bulgaria. February 28, 2023 Hunter Wallace Anti-Racism, Anti-White, Crime, Missouri, Race Realism, Race Relations 0. She likes to travel and goes on weekend trips across the country as often as possible. You can ship your belongings to Bulgaria by sea, air or land; its close enough to drive your stuff over and pets yourself too. Living in Bulgaria: A Quick Guide for U.S. Expats. . If you are resident in Bulgaria, you should exchange your UK licence for a Bulgarian driving licence at your nearest traffic police department within six months, after first registering with Bulgarian authorities. 5. The people are extremely kind and generous. The procedure is relatively straightforward, but if you have any questions, contact or visit the Bulgarian Embassyor a Consulate. Learn how your comment data is processed. Bulgarian is a difficult language, made more difficult by the fact that it uses the Cyrillic alphabet. We were so lucky to visit Plovdiv while there was a cultural festival on. As a result, the expat community in the Bulgarian capital is well-developed and you can always find help and advice or make friends. The truth about living in Bulgaria | American's point of view (funny) Lifey 234K subscribers Subscribe 92K views 3 years ago The truth about living in Bulgaria | An American's point of view. Its safe to say that a single person can live comfortably in Sofia with 1,000 lv (437/$605), rent excluded. Haskovo is another small Bulgarian town, where expats can dive into a relaxed way of living where stress and a dynamic lifestyle wont thrive. I will be the first to admit that a lot of my struggle here is because I havent acclimated here nearly as much as I should have: I still dont speak much of the language, and I struggle to find new and creative ways to put the 500-odd words of Bulgarian I speak into new configurations without having to ever conjugate a verb. Confirm you'd like to join our email list. Read our Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat for a detailed overview of the most popular locations. Now You Know Everything About Living in Bulgaria. Some of them would effortlessly win modeling competitions. Staying connected back home is tough, and being an expat in Sofia during the times of coronavirus, its been a lot harder. Bulgaria has been chosen by a number of expatswho wanted to get home or Internet-based businesses off the ground for the specific reason that their tax burden would be low. Bulgaria is one of the European countries that has been attracting a large number of expats in recent years and there are many reasons why. Every expat has to at some point. Dont be fooled by the common misconception that Bansko is simply a ski resort and thats it. Veliko Tarnovo - a historically rich and truly beautiful city 5. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages cost on average 65% less, and clothing costs are 75% less than the European Union average. If you have any questions about our guides or the country discussed feel free to contact us or leave a comment below and we'll get back to you. Dobrich your first step to a magnificent experience, 8. Thank you so much for this article, I was thinking of retiring to Portugal but now, I have changed my mind and am planning a trip to Bulgaria next year in 2022. 6. My husband works for an American company here in Sofia, helping their Portuguese team with customer support. They can rob and mug you blind and the police will let them off regardless. :D Cijenimo lina uea, dijeljenje upitnika i upvotes. The city is connected via a well-developed bus transport network. You may need to renounce your UK citizenship, depending on your. Its definitely a big difference from where Im from I spent 17 years living in California (San Francisco to be precise) and 9 in New York City but for now, its home! And in my opinion is absolutely correct. Renting will allow you to get familiar with the area and make sure it works for you all year round. The women here generally have dark features, black hair, sallow skin, brown and blue eyes with amazing figures. As someone that. better place to live than two-thirds of the world, All You Need To Know About Medical Insurance for Foreigners in Bulgaria. Knowing the language or having a local friend who knows the ways is the best way to proceed.

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