What is the standard of living in Bulgaria compared to Russia?

Overview of budget features in Bulgaria

This article discusses the key aspects of budget management in Bulgaria, including prices for a wide range of goods and services, as well as nuances related to real estate rental and maintenance, the education system, transportation, and healthcare.

Currency and standard of living

Despite Bulgaria being a member of the European Union, it maintains its own currency – the Bulgarian lev. However, its exchange rate is tightly fixed to the euro. Currently, 1 Bulgarian lev is valued at approximately €0.51, which is equivalent to $0.55 or 32 rubles. The cost of living varies significantly depending on the region:

• Life in Sofia will be 130% cheaper than in Moscow.
• To ensure a similar level of comfort in Sofia, €1530 (3000 leva) is sufficient.
• In the Russian capital, expenses will amount to approximately €3532 (6926 leva).

Total living expenses, excluding rent and debts, range from €520 to €900.

Food prices

As for food, data from the Numbeo website shows that in Sofia, the prices for basic food products are as follows:

• milk (1 liter) – 1.98 leva (€1)
• fresh bread (loaf) – 0.91 leva (€0.46)
• Rice (1 kg) – 2.34 leva (€1.20)
• eggs (12 pieces) - 2.87 leva (€1.4)
• Local cheese (1 kg) – 9.42 leva (€4.8)
• Chicken fillet (1 kg) – 8.47 leva (€4.3)
• Fruits and vegetables (for example, apples, oranges, or tomatoes) range from 0.7 leva (€0.35) to 2.4 leva (€1.22).
• Bottled water (1.5 liters) – 0.81 leva (€0.41)
• bottle of wine - from 5 leva (€2.55) to 11 leva (€5.61)
• Local beer (0.5 liters) – 1.09 leva (€0.55), and 2 liters for 2.5 leva (€1.27)
• imported beer (0.33 liters) – 1.9 leva (€0.96)
• A pack of Marlboro cigarettes – 5.05 leva (€2.57)

In cafes, the prices for local beer are 2 leva (€1.02) for 0.5 liters, while imported beer (0.33 liters) costs 3 leva (€1.53). Coffee in establishments ranges from 0.30 leva (€0.15) to 2.50 leva (€1.27).

Prices in resort towns

In Varna, the largest resort city in the country, the cost of a similar set of groceries is 4% lower than in the capital and 6.7% less than in Burgas. The presence of large chain supermarkets helps stabilize prices across Bulgaria.

On average, a couple spends about 100 leva (€51) on groceries each week.

Expenses on clothing, leisure, and health

In terms of expenses for clothing, leisure, and health, jeans from the Levi's brand or a similar one cost around 83 leva (€42). Summer dresses can be found in stores for 53 leva (€27), and during sales, the same model may cost only 25 leva (€13). Nike sneakers will set you back about 132 leva (€67), while imported leather shoes for men can be purchased for 91 leva (€46); local shoes start at a price of 50 leva (€26). Women's winter leather boots made in Bulgaria start at 100 leva (€51).

Fitness and leisure prices

• A gym membership costs 40 leva (€20).
• Renting a tennis court for an hour will cost 15 leva (€8).
• A movie ticket costs between 5 leva (€2.5) and 10 leva (€5).

Thus, the costs for everyday needs vary and can be adjusted depending on personal preferences and standard of living.

The cost of haircuts and communications

The standard price for men's haircuts in Bulgaria is around 9 leva, which is approximately 4.5 euros. Women's haircuts start at 15 leva, which is about 8 euros. If hair coloring is added, the cost can increase to 30 leva, which is around 15 euros.

The cost of mobile communication on local tariffs is 0.32 leva per minute, which is equivalent to 0.16 euros. Additionally, the monthly expenses for an internet connection with a bandwidth of 6 to 8 Mbps usually amount to about 16 leva, which is 8 euros.

Rent and housing expenses

When it comes to rent and other housing expenses, if you don't own a home, rent becomes a significant part of the budget. For example, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, starts at 300 leva (150 euros), which is a considerable expense, given that the minimum wage in the country is 184.07 euros.

In other regions of Bulgaria, prices for small apartment rentals are around 350 leva (180 euros), but this can vary considerably in popular tourist areas, especially in high season.

Short-term rental and utility expenses

When it comes to short-term rentals in tourist areas like Nessebar, the cost of staying in a room located 350 meters from the sea can start from 10 euros per person per day, depending on the time of year.

The average utility costs for an 85 square meter apartment are approximately 170 leva per month, including payments for electricity, heating, water, and garbage collection. However, the actual amount for utilities usually does not exceed 100 euros and can vary depending on the chosen heating method.

Real estate taxes

The property tax in this country is determined by the market value of the property and is set at 0.15% of the tax assessment.

Conclusion

In conclusion to the article about life in Bulgaria, I want to emphasize that this country represents a unique combination of affordability and quality of life. Despite being a part of the European Union, Bulgaria maintains its currency – the lev, which is steadily pegged to the euro, offering certain advantages for those who are just starting their journey here. This allows for living on significantly lower means compared to, for example, major Russian cities like Moscow.

Cost of living

I provided details about the prices of essential consumer goods and services, as well as demonstrated how rates vary in different cities across the country. For example:

• Cost of food products
• Real estate rentals
• Beauty services in Sofia and Varna

This illustrates the affordability of life in this region. A budget that may seem quite modest to many allows for the creation of comfortable conditions for dining, leisure, and education for the whole family.

Education

Education, as I have shown, is also accessible and diverse, and there are various opportunities for foreign students to study at university with minimal costs. This opens doors for those seeking quality academic education in Europe.

Why you should consider moving to Bulgaria

Therefore, if you are considering the possibility of moving or temporarily living in Bulgaria, I hope the information I provided has given you a complete understanding of the current standard of living offered here. Bulgaria is a country where everyone can find their own corner, enjoying not only beautiful landscapes and cultural traditions but also reasonable living costs.