She lives with her husband and two children and has an affinity for writing. So something that costs 2 leva is about one Euro. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! Healthcare in Bulgaria is universal and financed by compulsory health insurance contributions. Read our Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat for a detailed overview of the most popular locations. To retire in Bulgaria, you'll need to apply for a Type D visa and a long-term residence permit, renewable every year. Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe, bordering Romania to the south, North Macedonia and Serbia to the east, Turkey and Greece to the north, and the Black Sea to the west. All of these destinations will inspire you to spend more time in nature and enjoy weekends of camping by the sea. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 - 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 - 340. But to settle well you must truly integrate into the community and learning the language properly is a must. 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. One of the factors behind the outsourcing success. In this vlog, we explore some of the best reasons in retiring to one of Europe's most affordable . In a country where the minimum wage is 286 (245) a month, according to Eurostat, rents and utilities are low and a foreign pension can go a long way. Especially if you are educated and hard-working. 2. To keep informed, check ourLiving In Europe After Brexit guide on a regular basis. Perhaps our report on the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria will help and inspire you to move. 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. The Old Town is home to charming houses in the traditional old-style Bulgarian architecture. We live by a beautiful park thats often filled with litter. When it comes to buying, dont just rely on local friends to help with the language hire local, English-speaking notaries and attorneys. Staying connected back home is tough, and being an expat in Sofia during the times of coronavirus, its been a lot harder. Required fields are marked *. Bulgarian hotel and restaurant prices are apparently below half the average for the EU. 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. Varna - the perfect sea-side living 4. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. So while I cook for myself a lot because I love to do it, I often order delivery and indulge that way, and I enjoy going out to different restaurants around the city. There are also a number of bus lines you can take to get to most regions. Bulgaria uses the lev (plural: leva), which is pegged to the Euro at roughly 2:1. Haskovo is an extremely safe town to live in and you dont need to worry that youll be mugged, robbed, pickpocketed, or that your house will be broken into. You may need to take a translator and/ or lawyer with you if you dont speak Bulgarian, although one person told us that the teller at the branch in Sofia they went to spoke good English. Leslie Grantham: Bulgarias most famed Briton? Bulgarian is a difficult language, made more difficult by the fact that it uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Bulgaria makes it onto Expatras list of the cheapest countries to retire and is also on our hugely popular annual list of the best places to retire abroad from the UK. :D Cijenimo lina uea, dijeljenje upitnika i upvotes. Mobile phone packages are cheap for 25 leva you get unlimited calls to all networks with some GB internet. Cost of living in Sofia is the best part of being based here! The cost of living in Bulgaria is $739, which is 1.32 times less expensive than the world average. 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. 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. You can live a pretty luxurious life without checking your budget too frequently without thinking too much about it. Some links may be affiliate links. However, like any other place on earth, Bulgaria has its drawbacks. I'll further discuss whether Bulgaria is attractive for expats or not. You can ship your belongings to Bulgaria by sea, air or land; its close enough to drive your stuff over and pets yourself too. Veliko Tarnovo a historically rich and truly beautiful city, 5. Plovdivs Old Town is bound to steal your heart at a first glance. Complete Guide to Living in Bulgaria. I live on the western side of Sofia, halfway between Lyulin (the largest communist block area) and the center. Expat Advice for the First 30 Days Abroad, Tips for Learning the Local Language as an Expat, The 10 BEST Provincetown Airbnb Rentals to Book NOW, 16 Best Strasbourg Airbnb Homes to Book Today, 16 Perfect Sitges Airbnb Rentals to Book This Year. Sofia - a capital full of wonders 2. Spring and autumn days are purely magnificent, especially if you visit the Sea Garden for a morning or evening walk. Read More Stories on Our Expat Life Page Get New Posts and More Straight to Your Inbox With the Robe Trotting Newsletter. Bansko is a great destination for expats looking to enjoy a bit of hiking, skiing, cycling, and nature in general. Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. Kiss were supposed to play their final show in 2021, but pandemic delays to the lengthy final . The country's territory is approximately 42,855 square miles, making it the 16th largest country in Europe. A lot of things go into a custody decision and corresponding parenting plan, writes Dr. Jann Blackstone. Thanks for this post! (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? While I know Bulgaria has many issues with misogyny, theyre expressed a lot more under the surface whereas when I lived in Brooklyn, I was harassed constantly on the street, to the point where I would sometimes have panic attacks about leaving my apartment. We were so lucky to visit Plovdiv while there was a cultural festival on. 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. 1. The average salary after taxes in Bulgaria is $852, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.2 months. As the country is becoming more popular with expats, they discover other locations as well. Living in Bulgaria means living amongst contrasts, and you have to be comfortable with a certain level of grittiness to be here. It offers a vibrant and relaxing atmosphere simultaneously and has something for everyone. Authentic culture 5. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. If youre wondering about where you want to spend your time as an expat retiree, Bulgaria is certainly among the top choices. 1. Bulgaria is a very safe country. You need to contrast the cost of living with what you can expect to earn in Bulgaria. 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. Its a perfect place to live if youre after a calm and relaxed way of living, where every moment is full of joy and a feeling of belonging. Especially during summer, Varna is a top destination, even for Bulgarians. 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. Flat tax rates 2. 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. They are the success story of post communism leading a free-loading and pay-for-nothing lives, as well as the beneficiaries of state benefits and hand-outs. Whenever I go out to a restaurant, its almost always in Oborishte! Burgas a cultural hub on the coast of the Black Sea, 6. Living in the city, you can still feel the magnificent presence of the glorious fortress. My biggest concern is finding a job with an American company there. There were a lot of tears and several meltdowns along the way, but eventually we registered our company in Bulgaria. Youll be astonished by the golden domes of one of the main symbols of Sofia the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was created after Bulgarias liberation. You dont need any type of transport to get around the town as you can reach any point by walking. Potrebni uesnici 30+ godina starosti. And young Bulgarians are friendly and open, happy to chat with someone and always a bit curious why a foreigner is living in Bulgaria. Over-sold as a location after its entry into the European Union in 2008, a real estate bubble quickly formed and burst in Bulgaria, which has left some out of pocket, particularly if they invested in big new tourist developments on the coast or in the ski resorts. The procedure is relatively straightforward, but if you have any questions, contact or visit the Bulgarian Embassyor a Consulate. Most restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can have the special for about 56 leva. Bulgaria is a nation that has retained its national identity, history, culture and tradition it has certainly not sold out to the west. That is one of the biggest reasons not to move to California." 4. So I ended up staying in Sofia for love, and we got married in 2019 after exhausting all the other possibilities to stay together in Sofia, since domestic partnerships are not an option here. Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. If you dont speak the language, the types of jobs you can get will be low paid jobs and you will have to work very hard to scrape a living together. We strongly recommend renting a property in Bulgaria first, before you buy. We promise not spam your inbox The expat scene in Sofia is small but tight-knit. This will give you access to a GP, referrals to a specialist, and medicines at reduced prices or for free. I & # x27 ; ll further discuss whether Bulgaria is certainly among the top.. I live on the western side of Sofia, halfway between Lyulin the! Coast of the best part of being based here a Consulate best Places to in! 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