How life is in Bulgaria: shopping, prices, and living features in Sarafovo

Introduction

Our interviewees, Olga and Kirill, have found their new home in Bulgarian Sarafovo since 2017. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the steps they took for their move, the conditions under which they managed to obtain permanent residency, and what surprised them about life in this country. We will also discuss the process of adapting their children in kindergartens and how Bulgarians perceive foreign citizens.

Shopping cart

During their time living in Bulgaria, Olga and Kirill learned how to effectively manage their shopping basket. At first, they started by studying prices and the range of products, using online resources, video reviews, and customer feedback. However, as they emphasize, the information they gathered was only superficial. They gained a better understanding of the market only after settling in. Initially, the couple tried to compare prices by converting Bulgarian leva to euros, and then euros to rubles, in an effort to understand their spending levels.

Understanding prices

Soon they realized that comparing prices in Bulgaria with those in other countries was not practical. This understanding helped them better discern what to consider expensive and what to consider affordable. As a result, they chose their favorite supermarket.

Shopping places

Olga and Kirill knew in advance that they would be shopping at large supermarkets and wholesale stores. However, chains like Metro, Lidl, and Billa are not as commonly found in every area of Burgas. In their district, there are only three small markets and a few little shops that can be reached on foot. It should be noted that prices in such stores may be higher due to the limited selection and small retail spaces.

Store hours

All the stores in the country operate without weekends or breaks, but they still haven't found any 24-hour supermarkets. During the summer, some retail outlets extend their hours until 10 PM, which brings joy to both locals and tourists.

Information about discounts

Every major supermarket tries to inform its customers about special offers and promotions, which is why they have catalogs with fresh discounts and deals that are updated every week. These promotional materials are thoughtfully distributed to homes, allowing local residents to familiarize themselves with the advantageous offers. Additionally, similar brochures can be picked up in the stores.

Modern methods of price tracking

But there is also a more modern method of tracking stocks and prices — mobile applications. This app is an excellent tool for finding current offers in hypermarkets in Bulgaria, providing information about ongoing discounts, addresses, and operating hours of all stores. Thanks to this, Olga and Kirill can effectively manage their budget and plan their expenses, gaining the necessary knowledge about life in this country.

Conclusion

Their experience in Bulgaria, with its unique features and nuances, turned into an exciting and educational adventure.

General observations about grocery stores

In grocery supermarkets, we often don't see reduced prices or loyalty cards being offered. Although sometimes there are promotions with stickers. We only use cards in large hardware stores, but even there the benefits are minimal.

Prices and promotions

In practice, we have concluded that if a store has a discount card, the initial prices of products are often inflated, and discounts are only applied to a limited range of items. We purchase essential products every time at the Kaufland hypermarket, which is only six kilometers from our area, Sarafovo, at the entrance to the northern industrial zone of Burgas. This store offers a wide selection of goods.

For example, dairy products can be found from five or six different manufacturers. In contrast to this store, Lidl has a much narrower range of products, which is related to the characteristics of the hypermarket and supermarket format.

Advantages of Kaufland for large families

Kaufland in Bulgaria offers attractive conditions for large families like ours. Discounts and special offers are updated every week, which is definitely a big advantage.

• There are often discounts on coffee; only the brand and package weight change.
• We are true connoisseurs of this drink, and it is important to us.

In Sarafovo, small shops are also trying to follow the example of large chains by releasing mini brochures with promotions, but it is worth noting that the number of offers in them is significantly smaller. Additionally, before major holidays, almost all stores hold themed sales. For example, before Easter, entire sections are created with products needed for the festive table.

Meat products

It is important to mention meat products separately. In every district of Burgas, you can find specialized butcher shops, and there are usually several of them. Sarafovo is no exception. It is a true paradise for meat lovers, where you can find absolutely everything.

You can arrange a pre-order with the owner of any of these shops for a convenient time for the customer; no additional costs are required — everything happens at pre-established prices. When it comes to the quality of the meat, the difference between hypermarkets and butcher shops is not that significant. Each customer chooses the option that suits them best. We prefer the hypermarket because you can buy everything in one go.

Promotions for wholesale buyers

Another advantage is the special promotions for bulk purchases. For example, a piece of pork neck weighing about 3-3.5 kilograms costs a third less than if we were to buy it whole.

• The conditional price per kilogram will be 9.99 leva or 6.66 leva.
• Recently, we bought a piece of meat (weighing 3.3 kg) for 10 euros.

However, it is worth noting that we do not see any advantageous offers on meat due to packaging. Although the final price seems acceptable at first glance, when considering the cost per kilogram, it becomes clear how unprofitable such a purchase can be overall. Perhaps this would be a good option for people who live alone. Nevertheless, bulk purchases at the hypermarket remain the most reasonable and convenient solution for us, making the shopping process as comfortable as possible.

Shopping in Bulgaria

Although our daughter, who lives in Sofia, always chooses meat products at Kaufland, processes them, and stores them in the freezer, she knows how to diversify her menu thanks to her culinary skills. After moving to Bulgaria permanently, we continued to follow our shopping habits. Here, we can find the products that we have known since childhood. For example, we can enjoy dumplings or a salad that is called "Russian" here, but is actually our favorite Olivier.

The quality of products here is at a high level, as Bulgaria is part of the European Union and adheres to all necessary standards. On average, our family's monthly expenses amount to approximately2000 levaincluding payments such as gasoline and utilities. A weekly visit to the hypermarket costs at least150 leva...and during the holidays, this amount can increase to...200 levaand more. This budget includes small daily expenses as well.

Necessary purchases

It is necessary to regularly stock up on essential food products on weekdays, such as:

• bread
• milk
• vegetables
• fruits

All of this can be conveniently purchased on the way home from work. Vegetables and fruits are available in stores and markets in Bulgaria year-round, but some local varieties only appear in season. Currently, we have a predominance ofFrench fries...not Bulgarian. It cleans well and has a long shelf life, but in terms of taste, it doesn't compare to either Belarusian or local varieties. Sometimes, you can also find potatoes imported from Egypt.

Potato prices

In Kaufland, a kilogram of potatoes costs1.16 leva...but if you purchase a five-kilogram package, the price per kilogram will drop to...1 levThis is approximately0.50 eurosIn Sarafovo, the same potatoes will cost you already1.60 levaper kilogram. Bulgarian potatoes will only appear in the markets inJune...as well as tomatoes. Currently, you can find products from...TurkeyandGreeceIn season, of course, we try to prefer Bulgarian products, as they have a better taste and are more natural.

The assortment at the markets

The variety of local vegetables and fruits on store shelves is pleasing to the eye throughout the year, especially withJulybySeptemberHowever, local farmers often run out of their harvested produce before spring, which makes long-term storage difficult.

Visiting markets

We often visit markets in search of something special. The atmosphere at the markets is always delightful, and the aromas are simply enchanting.

Bread production in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, bread is typically produced on a large scale by major bakeries. The most common product is sliced white bread. The overall variety of baked goods is limited, usually featuring only three or four types, with black and gray bread often perceived as the same. A more diverse selection, such as pizza or banitsa, is available at small private bakeries.

Seasonal dynamics in bakeries

In the city of Burgas, there is a pronounced seasonal dynamic in the operation of bakeries. This is reflected not only in the change of assortment but also in their working hours:

• During peak seasons, establishments open very early, starting at 6:00 AM, to accommodate local residents.
• Tourists are served starting from noon.

During the summer period, the range of products significantly expands, which illustrates a clear focus on customer demands; however, the prices of the products remain unchanged.

The popularity of shawarma

It is also worth noting that shawarma has gained great popularity among the locals. Personally, I didn't find many places in Burgas where the preparation of this dish deserves praise. The only truly delicious place, in my opinion, is "Iskander Kebab," which has two branches in the city.

In this establishment, you can either have lunch on-site or take food to go. Half a kilogram of their dishes is priced at 3 euros, which is quite affordable.

Supermarkets and specialty stores

As for the stores, there is a chain called "Beryozka" in Burgas, where you can find products from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. I don't go there often myself, as I don't see much need for it. Thousands of other stores offer a sufficient variety of goods.

However, I am drawn to their condensed milk in blue cans, which is produced in Lithuania, as the Bulgarians, for one reason or another, do not produce it themselves.

Searching for exotic experiences

I was quite surprised by the absence of exotic products in the market. For example, we were looking for flying fish roe, tobiko, to make sushi. In the end, we managed to find capelin roe produced in Belarus at a small shop in Sarafovo, which somewhat resembled a "Beryozka" store.

Variety of fresh fish

Despite being located by the sea, the variety of fresh fish in Burgas is not as extensive as, for example, in Saint Petersburg. The selection includes only those types of fish and seafood that are permitted to be caught in the Black Sea.

In every district, there are fishing shops whose schedules depend on the catch of local fishermen and various cartels.

There is a clear dependence of the fish assortment on the seasons:

• In spring and autumn, the highest catch is recorded for species such as flounder, bonito, black mullet, horse mackerel, mullet, sea bass, and gobies.
• Other types of fish are usually imported and can be found in supermarkets or specialized stores with frozen goods.

For example, cod and haddock are only available frozen. Interestingly, the fish is frozen only once, and after thawing, it retains the texture and taste of a fresh product.

Tsatsa is a local delicacy.

The "tsatsa," small sprats that are a local delicacy, is especially popular among tourists. They are usually breaded and deep-fried, served with lemon and beer. A 200-gram portion costs just 1 euro.

Prices for groceries

When it comes to prices in Bulgaria, there is no doubt about the existing stereotype of high prices for buckwheat. This product is imported from Poland, and its cost exceeds 2 leva (about 1.20 euros) for a 500-gram package.

In Bulgaria, there is an opportunity to purchase goods both at wholesale markets and in retail networks, and often the prices between these formats differ only slightly. For example, the price of local buckwheat has caught the attention of buyers. Over the past two years, we have been purchasing jamón, which is a dry-cured Spanish ham, weighing between 6 to 7 kg. This product was delivered in beautiful packaging, complete with a special clamp and a slicing knife, and its cost was only 120 leva (about €60). It is a wonderful choice for a festive lunch or New Year's table.

Shopping places

As mentioned above, most purchases are made at one large hypermarket, but for some specific products, it's worth visiting specialized stores. For example, our eldest daughter's favorite gummy candies can only be found at Lidl; they are not available at other retailers. Additionally, we found diapers there: a pack of 25 cost about 15-16 leva. Frozen potatoes for making fries are conveniently purchased at the Janet supermarket, which offers various products for the HoReCa sector.

Gastronomic preferences of Bulgarians

Over the two years of shopping, we have made a number of interesting observations about the culinary preferences of Bulgarians. They are a people with conservative values. Therefore, it's hard for me to believe in ideas like "we started to get the locals used to borscht in our restaurant." Of course, it's possible that someone might try it once, but in most cases, the preference is given to familiar dishes, such as Bulgarian peleshko soup, which is a chicken soup with noodles and plenty of chicken meat, exquisitely seasoned with a milk-flour sauce. Interestingly, this soup is liked not only by me but also by our children. A serving of this dish costs only 2 leva for 350 grams.

Habits of Bulgarians

The usual behavior of the locals is not accidental — many Bulgarians prefer not to have breakfast at home. On their way to work, they often buy breakfast, getting coffee from nearby vending machines, which are quite numerous in the country. And, of course, they readily choose banitsa costing 80 stotinki. Coffee has become an integral part of their morning ritual. Regular street vending machines offer good quality coffee with a wonderful aroma for just 50 stotinki (about 25 euro cents). Yes, it is served in a cardboard cup with a plastic spoon, but the coffee is always fresh and tasty. What more do you need to start the day?

Coffee shop and ideas

The high quality of the beverage and reasonable prices are the reasons why our idea of opening our own café remained just an idea. To learn more about how our heroes spend their days in Bulgaria, you can delve into additional materials. Insider information and market analysis of foreignreal estate are important aspects of our conversation.

Conclusion

In conclusion of our conversation, I would like to share some personal impressions about life in Bulgaria that we, Olga and Kirill, have gathered during our time here. Moving to Sarafovo in 2017 was an important step for us, and we are happy to share our experiences in this new place. Every day here opens up new horizons, and besides practical aspects such as obtaining residency and helping our children adapt to local life, we have encountered many interesting cultural nuances.

Search for the consumer basket

I agree that finding and forming your own shopping basket in a new country is not an easy task. We started by exploring all the options available in local stores, and yes, the information from the internet turned out to be just a general reference. Living here, we gained confidence that prices and the range of products are radically different from what we were used to. Without getting tied to exchange rates, we learned to feel the local realities and identify those products that are truly worth their price.

Supermarket selection

One of the discoveries for us was the approach to choosing local supermarkets. Initially, we were focused on large international chains, but soon we concluded that local mini-markets, even with a more limited selection, can offer competitive prices and fresh products, which is certainly important for our family. We started to evaluate not only the price but also the quality of the goods and the level of service.

Special offers

Special offers and promotions in supermarkets have become a real find. It's especially pleasing that stores provide catalogs with discounts and deals, which simplifies the shopping planning process.

Local markets

An equally important aspect of our shopping practice has become the local meat market, where you can find a wide variety of fresh and quality products. After several years of living in Bulgaria, we have learned to navigate the local gastronomy very well, and with each visit to the store, we gain more confidence in our preferences.

Conclusions

Thus, our experience of living in Bulgaria shows that with the right approach to local conditions and cultural peculiarities, the adaptation process can be much more exciting than we initially anticipated. We will continue to explore and try new things, and I look forward to the next discoveries that will make our life even richer and more interesting.