I lived there and learned the language. I have been back since and am coming back this coming December!! Planning out my trip that will take me from Sofia to Burgas. I love Burgas.
Food, Clothes and Toiletries and specially electronics are far more expensive than most of the Western European countries , provided that the minimum wage in Bulgaria is somewhere near 500-800€. Bulgarians (who can) actually go to Turkey to do their shopping. Also due to massive labour shortages in pretty much any industry, the food prices are set to go up. Also , yet again we don't have a government which creates issues in every part of the industry. If you don't work a really highly qualified IT job , you won't be able to live comfortably. Also , you are guaranteed won't be getting pension, if you moved after the age of 30 and even if you do it will be around 250€ ( unless you pay separately). Real estate in cities like Sofia.Plovdiv,Varna,Burgas and other bigger towns has now become extremely expensive.Please people , try to be a bit more objective!
@@Steve-yx6vot really depends bruv. In my neighbourhood Mladost I have a shop where the can of coca cola is 1lv while in the foreign supermarkets it's 1.50lv. Also for example I have a shop where they deliver fresh milk at 2.30 per litre while in the supermarkets it's around 3.50lv... It's people's fault that they choose Kaufland LIDL etc over smaller shops that went bankrupt. In our neighborhood shop they know they can rely on us so they don't overprice us a lot and even oil costs 2.70lv/l while the oil in supermarkets even when on "promotion" costs a minimum 3lv/litre. Another good example is that in our shop Prisun juice costs 1.80lv (1.5litres) while in kaufland it's 2.90lv... All the beers are cheaper too at least 0.60 lv below everything in supermarkets. And by the way for fruits and veggies everyone in Sofia should use the "lady's market" for a while and people will see how prices in supermarkets will drop. It's our own fault that everyone shops from supermarkets whilst in countries such as Austria the supermarkets are used by locals as a last case resort which keeps costs at lower levels.
@@GNMbg The official reason is that our market is very small but unofficially we have monopoly when we are talking about the food chain stores. They are abusing the local food manufacturers and they are selling the products at very high prices.
It should be noted that one could shop around quite a bit for lower grocery prices. Supermarkets dont provide good prices on vegetables and meats. Small local stores if one knows the area can sometimes offer 50% price cut for the same quality produce but its not a one stop all kind of deal. Its more like this butchery has great meat. This vegetable store has great veggies. This company store has great deals on cheese and eggs etc.
Never forget, that Bulgarian families are home owners. My family owns several properties. Most families are not depaning on salaries alone. We don't have mortgages and many generate. Income via rent. Plus other side family business. Many have small village homes and produce their own food. And you get what you pay for of course. There is no way that you can live on 600 per month and do it well well. Homes in Sofia can start at around 70'000 but, that is in a inexpensive home in an area that is not very desirable. All the way to six figures in gated communities. No diffrent than anywhere else. Just be careful, and check things for your self.
I wholeheartedly agree with all your comments. Having lived in Sofia for 16 years, I can attest that the cost of living here is comparable to the San Francisco Bay area. It's worth noting that mortgages are rare, as properties are typically fully owned. Additionally, many Bulgarians own at least one vacation home in a village, which is also fully owned. This highlights Bulgarians' remarkable ability to lead a high-quality life, showcasing their wealth in lifestyle rather than just financial terms.
The real estate agent gave you double prices, even triple. You can rent a one bedroom apartment for $150 USD a month, and you can get deals for $30k USD to buy such ( arround 25 to 30 square feet one bedroom apartment).
For 25-30 square feet apartment (2.5m2)? That’s the size of the bathroom usually. That’s like 12,000 per metre squared, so I think that it’s 12 times more expensive than the agent said
What do you think as a Brit living in Bulgaria? Because me as Bulgarian living in England I can say the prices even converted are more expensive in Bulgarian in many of the products and here in England either the same or slightly cheaper, and the minimum salary in Bulgaria is what, about £400-500 pounds? and in England is around £1300 let's say.
Dude I found your post incredibly stupid .How much do you pay for rent ?Are you ever going to own a home in the UK?How much Is you car insurance or how much are you paying for the tube a month.
That's only because of the current inflation, usually Bulgaria has some of the cheapest food and water costs in Europe. Also the cost of living in England is significantly greater when you account for utilities, mortgage payments, asset prices, surmountable taxation etc.
Good video...I'm going to watch Man City play in the champions league in Istanbul. I'm black, bold and broke so to save money I'm planning on flying to Sofia and then taking the night train to Istanbul. Wish me luck!
@A Taste of Bulgaria nah...not gone yet. The match is this Saturday (June 10th) not even bought the plane tickets yet! Looking forward to the mini adventure 😀
I always find it hard to believe the property prices in "cheap" places. A 100m2 flat for € 200k-250k does not seem proportional to the average salaries there. In Las Vegas, the houses are about the same price but the average income is around $5k/mo, or € 4.5k - much higher than Bulgaria. How do people make it work?
The majority of the people have it hard but the picture is more complex. First, the “grey” economy is a lot bigger than in the West - meaning real incomes are higher but pass undetected and undeclared. Second, Bulgarians are home owners and every family owns an apartment and a house somewhere in a village or small town. The renting market is sizeable only in the top big cities. Third, taxes are low. 10% flat income and corporate tax - let more money stay into people and companies. But all in all - Bulgaria has a long way to go until it reaches average Western standard of living for the ordinary families. Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv etc perhaps come very close but the rest of the country lags behind.
The real estate agent gave triple prices, thats how. I bought my house for $30K USD 100 square feet, 20 minutes from the center of Sofia. Don't trust real estate agencies here.
Thanks for you kind comments and glad your enjoying, I only have a cost of living very from Plovdiv but it’s a year old, so I guess it’s a little outdated. Though I have some from the very near town of Asenovgrad which is a lovely place, check them out in the playlist Asenovgrad Plovdiv region (What you can Do) Rhodope Mountains th-cam.com/play/PLdA6eIzAAhIr6Ca89mXHKehIg9onJ_wsx.html
What is the cost of living in Bulgaria for a family of two in an economical city that has everything necessary in a two-bedroom home, including rent, utilities (electricity, water, gas, phone, internet, etc.), transportation, and entertainment, with moderate spending aiming for the most economical options but in a well-located, safe, and easily accessible area? Please provide the costs in American dollars or euros.
Surprisingly, the cost of living is creaping up, especially supermarket food prices and building materials for houses!! I think that the cost of building materials has doubled in the last year. 😢😢 I wish there was a place to find recycled building materials like RSJ steel beams, metal sheets and wood..
Good video thanks :) but when people speak for prices low or high they forget most importantly "quality" some products are just like waste tasteless like plastic. You see "good" price on the cheese and it turns out to be palm oil. GMO-pesticides without any warning. And this "promo price" -10% - 30% most of time is just pure scam old price was 2,99lv with new "promo price" -30% = 3,99lv haha or same price like before. Most scam is when you see price 1,99lv but when checkout 2,20lvl or more. they always have an excuse for that "mistake"
Hi, loving your channel, and the passion you have for Bulgarian food ,very informative.However my question isn't food related.Will we get a better exchange rate in Sunny Beach pound to Leva than we could get in Uk? We are visiting for 11 days in early September...Best Regards Ray.
Thanks very much for the comment, regarding the question….I don’t know the exchange rate that you would get in UK. Though I do know the exchange rate you get in Sunny Beach compared to other Bulgarian big cities is very bad. My best advice is to take a Revolut or Wise card. He you get the best exchange rates form anywhere. Then you pay with card everywhere possible. If you need cash you can withdraw up to £200 in the local currency per month for free. Though there are fees after the 200 (check out the T’s & C’s). When withdrawing the cash locally avoid the Euronet Cash machine they rip you off big time. Go to an official bank cash machine.
Living cost in Sofia for a couple is from 1500 euros per month at the absolute low end ot 4000 euros per month at the absolute high end. This includes rent and would fall under most people's understanding of what a "normal" lifestyle is by modern and western standards.
I appreciate the video but there is plenty of redundant information. Prices across European countries are largely harmonised with exception of a few areas. It is more than enough to just mention average salaries average rent and a few products
Dont they have ciders in Bulgaria? I know that Aldi (at least here in Portugal) only has somersby 4.5% crap . But in other shops, like the UK, arent there ciders ? Strong ones?
I asked my brother in law to get me some Lagavulin and Laphroaig for my upcoming summer visit, but he says its now cheaper to order from Germany. Its not something you find in most grocery stores.
@@ATasteofBulgaria It is a bit of a specialty, I have to have him get it for me, because it's impossible to find Islay Scotch in Sliven except at Papa Jacks Bar.
@@ATasteofBulgariaI was amazed to see higher prices than here in Germany in what we call the "discounter" supermarkets. Minimum wage in Germany is €13. If you work for Aldi or Lidl the wage is often above €16. The poorer Bulgarians must really struggle?
I'm in Sofia shortly for a day (I'm a craft beer lover, with the few bars on my list!). Am I correct in thinking that you can clock in/out on the Metro with a debit card, like you can in London? And that it just maxes out to say , a day travelcard?
You don't buy a kilogram of carrots. Thats a lot. So figure like half of that kilo cost. Probably like 2 carrots is half a kilo maybe? And 4 carrots is 1 kilo ? Good statistics video
On peut trouver la vie moins chère dans les petites villes , mais à Sofia , on trouve toutes les sortes de nourriture de differents pays . Le cout de la nourriture est trop élevé pour les Bulgares , donc la Bulgarie est chère , et surtout les logements qui sont supérieurs au salaire médian pour un 50 M 2 . Oui , c' est cher ! Comme partout . Sauf pour les européens de l' Ouest , un retraité com moi par ex . Mais , pour éviter les coups de poignards , les viols etc etc que ne ferait-on pas ?? Vive la Bulgarie !!
This is the answer I received. “It's not percentage - per 100 It's per 1000 and this is calculated by the tax agency so it depends on a lot of things” Which means per 1000lv your property is worth you will pay around 1.6lv
@@ATasteofBulgaria Thanks! So the property tax is around 0.16% per year! In California its 1% and my town adds another almost 1%. Other states are even more.
Costs are going up everywhere within the EU and possibly worldwide. It´s the WEF agenda. Costs in Bulgaria are considerably cheaper than in Germany. However, so is the nedian income.
if you think you can live with 600$ in Sofia in 2023 as a foreigner you are totally deluded Ahahaha bulgarians might be because they own their place but that's it, 600$ is not even the salary of a cashier so aim for 1100-1300$ minimum to live a normal life (not even fancy)
600$ is still lower than the average Net (yes, net not gross) salary in Sofia which is 1100$ or 1032€. This is how much the average person in Sofia earns. And keep in mind these are statistics, many people make more than that. (And not its not only IT guys like foreigners tend to think), anyone working for less than 600$ is considered less than the average salary for the whole country. Yes families in villages live with that much but in Sofia that amount would go nowhere.
@@dwartbg1 yes that's exactly what i was trying to express, stop telling foreigners it's possible to live with 600€ in Bulgaria even less in sofia also as you said it people here don't declare all the incomes to the state so the average (net) is probably around 1500€, the median (net) might be lower
@EuroMaidan2083 Exactly thats true too. Foreigners tend to think locals dont make more than the average salaries given by official sources and statistics but most have more than one job or contract at the same place, some have both an official and an unofficial job or business and so on. So people make way more than what some foreigners believe. Thats how you see all these new luxury apartment buildings, people driving new cars and whatnot. People are far from being rich, but they don't survive on 600$ or even the average salary either. As Im saying even the average salary cannot provide you a proper relaxed lifestyle. And as I said many foreigners dont know that we locals get bonuses and have more than one contract at our jobs. So you can say we earn more than one salary and the average for the whole year isnt just 12 times of the net salary given by statistics. There are many ways to make money here as long as you want to work.
I'll give one example of a normal Bulgarian born and raised in Sofia: - you work somewhere - at this job you also get bonuses around 4-5 times a year, many get a 13th salary which is a whole salary given at you in your December paycheck - then maybe you get other contracts or projects in some months or days throughout the year - then you also could own more than one property and you're renting an apartment or an office somewhere, it could be even a small kiosk for cigarettes, but that still brings you extra money every month - then also you could also be selling some stuff online or heck even have some second business that you're doing in your free time - then also we can count the money coming from your wife too And then you can realistically imagine how a lot of the educated people live in Sofia. You can remove a thing or two, but most people dont rely solely on one job or business venture.
14:49 the owner can sell for whatever price he wishes? there is no control from the government? so the buyer has to pay whatever the owner wants? he can not make an offer below the ask price? what a load of bs, it's like an offer you can't refuse from some famous movie 😂
So the agent in your video said at least 500 Euro for an apartment... just bullshit.. She's an agent want profit so she refers to expensive apartment's. LOL.. we who lived here for many years, know the REAL prices..
The average price for rental in Sofia is around 350-400 €. 500€ is an absolutely normal price for 2023, these are the prices sadly. Thats how it is nowadays.
It seems Burgas is much cheaper for eating out etc. I found Sofia for eating out and the supermarkets not much difference to the UK and Malta where I am now.
@Rachel Collins Prices in Supermarkets are the same in Bulgaria (at least thats the case for the main ones like Kaufland, Lidl etc.) Only restaurant and bar prices can differ between cities.
Bullshit, possible to get studio apartment for single person 300-350 euro, 500+ euro is for 2/3 bedroom apartments which are for whole families, not single person.
I guess there is not a lot of publicity of the other areas, travel agencies are only interested in Sunny Beach and no one else is doing anything to advertise the resorts in foreign countries
In the UK things are cheaper in Bulgaria. The only reason this country exists is the immigrants who still send money. Overpriced costs of food, but the wages are below compared to Western Europe. Then oh don't compare Bulgaria to the West because it's poor. Even though why do the prices keep getting higher than the prices in Western Europe? So I can tell you how. The country doesn't have profits from exports. Whatever these exports are they are not profitable for the country. Massive corruption and a grey economy in this country that average workers are forced to work up to 84 hours a week to get a wage of around 800-900 leva which is equal to 380-390£ per month! I won't cover the higher-paid minority workers because they represent 1-5% of society, while everyone else is facing these challenges. There's only 1% of the whole population that doesn't have a debt to pay to the bank. So how it goes you might ask. You get your wages you pay high energy bills, bank debt, and transport if you use and buy less from the supermarket because you can't afford to buy anything else except toilet paper, rice, egg, and Oil(which is super expensive) for cooking, milk, bean seeds and rarely meat (most of the chicken is full of water, not meat) Then you get sick and you pay ridiculous prices for medicine stuff. Every day you are bombarded with ads about fast credit, medical products and gambling ads. Laws that nobody follows, gipsy's are low educated than the natives and still live better than them and can kill you for just 2 leva. Worst country to live and I know this because I'm Bulgarian. Bulgaria is not the ads you see on TH-cam on how Sunny Beach, Varna Nessebar, Albena, Golden Sands, Bansko, and Pamporovo great is to visit. That's why houses are cheaper but it's not worth living there unless you plan to live alone in the mountains away from people.
Stop fear mongering Westeners with your boring Bulgariaphobia, if they have a normal income as an expat, retirement or any sort of passive income Bulgaria is the perfect place to live. Low taxes, cheapest cost of living in the Eurozone, wonderful nature, culture, food and a piece of paradise where you can escape from the Western lifestyle, all the economic issues you prescribed are not endemic to Bulgaria, they are exacerbated in every EU country especially the G7. The country has significantly improved its standard of living, GDP is projected to double in 2030 with huge investment (mainly from the EU commission and foreign investment) in transport infrastructure of rails and roads, digitalization of education and bureaucracy, transition to a knowledge based economy with a focus on STEM and telecommunications. You think the West is any different? Go live in the UK or France for a few years and you will quickly start to regret ever even thinking about moving away from the country that has everything to offer. Thankfully people like you will move away and make the house prices cheaper for people looking to move in so they can actually appreciate the country for what it is and stop hating on it
I want to come to Bulgaria in purpose study. Could you please help me to give right information? My question is that will i get job opportunity while studying? How does students income
Shame on you for trashing your country in such a horrible way. Bulgaria is beautiful and exists because of the many young, smart and motivated people who appreciate it instead of complaining about everything,Bulgaria has one of the oldest and most significant histories in the world, not to mention its beautiful nature. Many foreigners appreciate our land and what it has to offer but unfortunately our main problem are people like you who would rather live abroad instead of doing something productive and meaningful in their own country. Yes, many things like wages,prices, and corruption are an issue,however, the way you describe it all is exaggerated and untrue. Sadly you’re one of those Bulgarians who blame their failures on the country, the government, their families, etc, so your opinion comes from a place of hatred and dissatisfaction. Much more can be said, but actions speak louder than words, and yes, I am happy in my country as many people are. To those who have read my comment,please come to visit us and enjoy our spectacular, small but also very rich country.Thank you❤
@@khabirulislam-vl1sm The Sofia University(considered the prestigious from the whole country) states: Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski offers Bachelor and Master study programs in English. Bachelor’s degree programs in English include European Union and European Integration, African Studies, Philosophy. The degree takes four years. If you are interested in obtaining a Master’s degree, you can choose from more than 20 different study programs! Some of them are Business Administration, Public Administration, Genetics and Genomics, Medicine, Organizational psychology and cross-cultural management, Pharmacy. Most applicants at Sofia University choose to study Medicine in English. The duration of the program is six years (12 semesters). The tuition fees are 7700 EUR per year (3350 EUR per semester). An entrance exam in Biology and Chemistry is a must to pass. Every year around 50 applicants get a university spot. Another study program that is a common choice among foreign students at Sofia University is Pharmacy in English. The English program was introduced in 2019 and the duration of the course is 5 years (10 semesters). As for tuition fees, students in Pharmacy in English pay 6000 EUR per academic year (3000 EUR per semester). Applicants must pass an entrance exam in Biology and Chemistry. The study program includes an internship. The academic year is divided into a winter and a summer semester. Lessons usually start around September and end around June, so students have a long summer break. Tuition fees vary depending on the study program. Full-time students at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski are allowed to apply for a student loan. They can do this at a local bank in Bulgaria or their home country - this is often the case for students coming from Germany or Sweden. There are no scholarships provided by the university to cover the tuition fees. I hope it gives you information. More info here: www.interhecs.com/study-in-bulgaria/
![ง้อ (ALRIGHT) - FOURTH [ TEASER ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ya6MBfo-Wvg/mqdefault.jpg)
I feel Bulgaria grocery prices are more expensive than many west Europe countries
I lived there and learned the language. I have been back since and am coming back this coming December!! Planning out my trip that will take me from Sofia to Burgas. I love Burgas.
Great job well done
Hey, I need some information about Bulgaria, are you okay for a call?
I want to live in Burgas too. Would u share more about it, the living expenses etc?
I can assure that you didn't "learn" the language.
Food, Clothes and Toiletries and specially electronics are far more expensive than most of the Western European countries , provided that the minimum wage in Bulgaria is somewhere near 500-800€. Bulgarians (who can) actually go to Turkey to do their shopping. Also due to massive labour shortages in pretty much any industry, the food prices are set to go up. Also , yet again we don't have a government which creates issues in every part of the industry. If you don't work a really highly qualified IT job , you won't be able to live comfortably. Also , you are guaranteed won't be getting pension, if you moved after the age of 30 and even if you do it will be around 250€ ( unless you pay separately). Real estate in cities like Sofia.Plovdiv,Varna,Burgas and other bigger towns has now become extremely expensive.Please people , try to be a bit more objective!
Sofia is one of the most expensive places, like the Black sea coast. My local bar only charge about 35p for an expresso 😀
Where are you based?
@@ATasteofBulgaria Vidin area
Lovely area, and I guess amazing price for coffee too 😉
@@Steve-yx6vot really depends bruv. In my neighbourhood Mladost I have a shop where the can of coca cola is 1lv while in the foreign supermarkets it's 1.50lv.
Also for example I have a shop where they deliver fresh milk at 2.30 per litre while in the supermarkets it's around 3.50lv...
It's people's fault that they choose Kaufland LIDL etc over smaller shops that went bankrupt.
In our neighborhood shop they know they can rely on us so they don't overprice us a lot and even oil costs 2.70lv/l while the oil in supermarkets even when on "promotion" costs a minimum 3lv/litre.
Another good example is that in our shop Prisun juice costs 1.80lv (1.5litres) while in kaufland it's 2.90lv...
All the beers are cheaper too at least 0.60 lv below everything in supermarkets.
And by the way for fruits and veggies everyone in Sofia should use the "lady's market" for a while and people will see how prices in supermarkets will drop.
It's our own fault that everyone shops from supermarkets whilst in countries such as Austria the supermarkets are used by locals as a last case resort which keeps costs at lower levels.
I call that BS,can you post the receipt.Where you paying 35 cents for a coffee .Coffee is it at least 1 euro
Given the relativity low wages in Bulgaria, I'm surprised it's so expensive - especially the food.
This is the reason why Bulgaria is a poor country.
@@pavlinpetkov8984 yeah I am currently in Italy and the food is so much cheaper compared to Bulgaria (not everything but most basic products)
@@GNMbg The official reason is that our market is very small but unofficially we have monopoly when we are talking about the food chain stores. They are abusing the local food manufacturers and they are selling the products at very high prices.
Great video. Hi from Czech republic
Woww nice need come there from Estonia 🇪🇪💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏
I wish you all the best in succeeding in that mission
The supermarkets are actually pretty expensive I find. It's things like tax, electric, beer, going out for meals/drinks which are very affordable.
I know, crazy all the necessities are high and luxuries not as much
Eating out is excellent value and quality and clean.
Exactly, those supermarket prices are high. There are items there that cost less in North America.
Supermarket right!
It should be noted that one could shop around quite a bit for lower grocery prices. Supermarkets dont provide good prices on vegetables and meats. Small local stores if one knows the area can sometimes offer 50% price cut for the same quality produce but its not a one stop all kind of deal. Its more like this butchery has great meat. This vegetable store has great veggies. This company store has great deals on cheese and eggs etc.
Great video Gareth!
Never forget, that Bulgarian families are home owners. My family owns several properties. Most families are not depaning on salaries alone. We don't have mortgages and many generate. Income via rent. Plus other side family business. Many have small village homes and produce their own food. And you get what you pay for of course. There is no way that you can live on 600 per month and do it well well. Homes in Sofia can start at around 70'000 but, that is in a inexpensive home in an area that is not very desirable. All the way to six figures in gated communities. No diffrent than anywhere else. Just be careful, and check things for your self.
Are rents paid monthly or annually?
I wholeheartedly agree with all your comments. Having lived in Sofia for 16 years, I can attest that the cost of living here is comparable to the San Francisco Bay area. It's worth noting that mortgages are rare, as properties are typically fully owned. Additionally, many Bulgarians own at least one vacation home in a village, which is also fully owned. This highlights Bulgarians' remarkable ability to lead a high-quality life, showcasing their wealth in lifestyle rather than just financial terms.
Brilliant information. My first watch of your channel. I will subscribe.
Welcome aboard! Glad you enjoyed it and hope that you’ll find enjoyment in future video that you watch of mine
Produce is very similarly priced in Canada. Personal care is more expensive in Bulgaria. Bread and dairy are way cheaper in Bulgaria.
But I think the balance is a but lopsided
The real estate agent gave you double prices, even triple. You can rent a one bedroom apartment for $150 USD a month, and you can get deals for $30k USD to buy such ( arround 25 to 30 square feet one bedroom apartment).
For 25-30 square feet apartment (2.5m2)? That’s the size of the bathroom usually. That’s like 12,000 per metre squared, so I think that it’s 12 times more expensive than the agent said
@@ATasteofBulgaria Sorry, I mean square meters, 25-30 square meters. It will be in a far neighborhood, but still you can get such deals.
@ITy-wm7gk that’s a different story than, thanks for adding your input 👍🙏
Working Studio has some great videos on their TH-cam channel. Great for getting some comprehensible input.
They definitely do, that’s why I agree to give them a free plug
What do you think as a Brit living in Bulgaria? Because me as Bulgarian living in England I can say the prices even converted are more expensive in Bulgarian in many of the products and here in England either the same or slightly cheaper, and the minimum salary in Bulgaria is what, about £400-500 pounds? and in England is around £1300 let's say.
good luck buying a house in UK with 1500 pounds per month :p
It’s ok because I don’t pay rent. Though funnily enough I have a planned video coming soon about that
Dude I found your post incredibly stupid .How much do you pay for rent ?Are you ever going to own a home in the UK?How much Is you car insurance or how much are you paying for the tube a month.
That's only because of the current inflation, usually Bulgaria has some of the cheapest food and water costs in Europe. Also the cost of living in England is significantly greater when you account for utilities, mortgage payments, asset prices, surmountable taxation etc.
It would be interesting to compare the expenses with other BG 🇧🇬 cities/towns.
Have a look on "Numbeo"😉
Would be interesting to do, if I can get to multiple cities with the same period of time. As prices a change regularly
@@ATasteofBulgariahow much do u spend per month?
@@raffaelloschirinzi2072is it a channel 🤔?
Good video...I'm going to watch Man City play in the champions league in Istanbul. I'm black, bold and broke so to save money I'm planning on flying to Sofia and then taking the night train to Istanbul.
Wish me luck!
Hope all went well, though I’m guessing it did
@A Taste of Bulgaria nah...not gone yet. The match is this Saturday (June 10th) not even bought the plane tickets yet! Looking forward to the mini adventure 😀
I always find it hard to believe the property prices in "cheap" places. A 100m2 flat for € 200k-250k does not seem proportional to the average salaries there. In Las Vegas, the houses are about the same price but the average income is around $5k/mo, or € 4.5k - much higher than Bulgaria. How do people make it work?
The majority of the people have it hard but the picture is more complex. First, the “grey” economy is a lot bigger than in the West - meaning real incomes are higher but pass undetected and undeclared. Second, Bulgarians are home owners and every family owns an apartment and a house somewhere in a village or small town. The renting market is sizeable only in the top big cities. Third, taxes are low. 10% flat income and corporate tax - let more money stay into people and companies. But all in all - Bulgaria has a long way to go until it reaches average Western standard of living for the ordinary families. Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv etc perhaps come very close but the rest of the country lags behind.
Interesting question
Think you where able to explain it a little better, that’s for adding to it
The real estate agent gave triple prices, thats how. I bought my house for $30K USD 100 square feet, 20 minutes from the center of Sofia. Don't trust real estate agencies here.
@@ITy-wm7gk Thanks! That sounds about right. Did you not use a real estate agent, or did you just negotiate the price?
We are really enjoying your videos. Have you done any featuring Haskovo? Plovdiv? That would be most appreciated too. Keep up the good work.😊
Thanks for you kind comments and glad your enjoying, I only have a cost of living very from Plovdiv but it’s a year old, so I guess it’s a little outdated. Though I have some from the very near town of Asenovgrad which is a lovely place, check them out in the playlist
Asenovgrad Plovdiv region (What you can Do) Rhodope Mountains
th-cam.com/play/PLdA6eIzAAhIr6Ca89mXHKehIg9onJ_wsx.html
What is the cost of living in Bulgaria for a family of two in an economical city that has everything necessary in a two-bedroom home, including rent, utilities (electricity, water, gas, phone, internet, etc.), transportation, and entertainment, with moderate spending aiming for the most economical options but in a well-located, safe, and easily accessible area? Please provide the costs in American dollars or euros.
Surprisingly, the cost of living is creaping up, especially supermarket food prices and building materials for houses!!
I think that the cost of building materials has doubled in the last year. 😢😢
I wish there was a place to find recycled building materials like RSJ steel beams, metal sheets and wood..
Yeah it’s crazy, we are facing the same issues
@@ATasteofBulgaria is it time to join forces and start a business then?😂
Good video thanks :) but when people speak for prices low or high they forget most importantly "quality" some products are just like waste tasteless like plastic. You see "good" price on the cheese and it turns out to be palm oil. GMO-pesticides without any warning. And this "promo price" -10% - 30% most of time is just pure scam old price was 2,99lv with new "promo price" -30% = 3,99lv haha or same price like before. Most scam is when you see price 1,99lv but when checkout 2,20lvl or more. they always have an excuse for that "mistake"
Some good points you made there, thanks for adding them
What about cheese? And parmesan?
Love ur video am a nigerian will love to live in bulgaria
Thanks, glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting
Hi, loving your channel, and the passion you have for Bulgarian food ,very informative.However my question isn't food related.Will we get a better exchange rate in Sunny Beach pound to Leva than we could get in Uk? We are visiting for 11 days in early September...Best Regards Ray.
Thanks very much for the comment, regarding the question….I don’t know the exchange rate that you would get in UK. Though I do know the exchange rate you get in Sunny Beach compared to other Bulgarian big cities is very bad. My best advice is to take a Revolut or Wise card. He you get the best exchange rates form anywhere. Then you pay with card everywhere possible. If you need cash you can withdraw up to £200 in the local currency per month for free. Though there are fees after the 200 (check out the T’s & C’s). When withdrawing the cash locally avoid the Euronet Cash machine they rip you off big time. Go to an official bank cash machine.
@@ATasteofBulgaria Thanks for taking time to reply in such detail, it's very helpful 👍
I travel to Pleven every 4/6 weeks everything rising and also House prices
Living cost in Sofia for a couple is from 1500 euros per month at the absolute low end ot 4000 euros per month at the absolute high end. This includes rent and would fall under most people's understanding of what a "normal" lifestyle is by modern and western standards.
What are the best smaller cities near Sofia I plan to move to Bulgaria
I appreciate the video but there is plenty of redundant information. Prices across European countries are largely harmonised with exception of a few areas. It is more than enough to just mention average salaries average rent and a few products
Using this averages is very dangerous, they seem to create a lot of negative commenting
I can’t find the link to the website you mentioned in the important section, where can I find it?
There is no way the average cost of living is what is said early in the video. Those grocery prices are very expensive.
Dont they have ciders in Bulgaria? I know that Aldi (at least here in Portugal) only has somersby 4.5% crap . But in other shops, like the UK, arent there ciders ? Strong ones?
I asked my brother in law to get me some Lagavulin and Laphroaig for my upcoming summer visit, but he says its now cheaper to order from Germany. Its not something you find in most grocery stores.
That’s madness that things are cheap to import
@@ATasteofBulgaria It is a bit of a specialty, I have to have him get it for me, because it's impossible to find Islay Scotch in Sliven except at Papa Jacks Bar.
Do they have Inflation? because the prices were higher than in many countries, Greece is cheaper.
Yes we have big time here
@@ATasteofBulgariaI was amazed to see higher prices than here in Germany in what we call the "discounter" supermarkets. Minimum wage in Germany is €13. If you work for Aldi or Lidl the wage is often above €16. The poorer Bulgarians must really struggle?
Wow
Do I have to pay Vat if I rent a property I own? Or is the 10% tax the only thing to pay?
Geez food is expensive...Cambodia here i come ....
Where are the links that you said you were going to post?
I'm in Sofia shortly for a day (I'm a craft beer lover, with the few bars on my list!). Am I correct in thinking that you can clock in/out on the Metro with a debit card, like you can in London? And that it just maxes out to say , a day travelcard?
Yes, it works exactly like that. Not only for the metro but for all public transport - buses, trams and trolleys.
Hope you were able to… and enjoyed you craft beer mission
Damn useful information, btw where is the link to the real estate company?
Here are links and numbers….they don’t have a website
m.imot.bg/agencies/greenhills
+359878126800
@@ATasteofBulgariado u have a link for an agency in Burgas btw?
You don't buy a kilogram of carrots. Thats a lot. So figure like half of that kilo cost.
Probably like 2 carrots is half a kilo maybe? And 4 carrots is 1 kilo ?
Good statistics video
On peut trouver la vie moins chère dans les petites villes , mais à Sofia , on trouve toutes les sortes de nourriture de differents pays .
Le cout de la nourriture est trop élevé pour les Bulgares , donc la Bulgarie est chère , et surtout les logements qui sont supérieurs au salaire médian pour un 50 M 2 . Oui , c' est cher ! Comme partout . Sauf pour les européens de l' Ouest , un retraité com moi par ex . Mais , pour éviter les coups de poignards , les viols etc etc que ne ferait-on pas ?? Vive la Bulgarie !!
Great vid ... Where is the link?
Which link are you referring to?
The woman's explanation of property tax cost didn't make sense to me, can you clarify?
I will get clarification on that for you
This is the answer I received.
“It's not percentage - per 100
It's per 1000 and this is calculated by the tax agency so it depends on a lot of things”
Which means per 1000lv your property is worth you will pay around 1.6lv
@@ATasteofBulgaria Thanks! So the property tax is around 0.16% per year! In California its 1% and my town adds another almost 1%. Other states are even more.
@@TheRealRaygorThe property tax on my house in California is $12,000 pee year. The property tax on my apartment in Sofia is $150 per year 😂
Is 4100 a month enough to have a decent living in sofia?
Costs are going up everywhere within the EU and possibly worldwide. It´s the WEF agenda. Costs in Bulgaria are considerably cheaper than in Germany. However, so is the nedian income.
With some things yes and others no
Yes you are absolutely right. I'm currently in Colombia, latin america and the prices here have risen too
Can someone manage with 1800bgn in Sofia? Food/rent/gym sub and from time to time some clubbing:)
You are very good with Nombers bro😊
Thanks for that
Hi, looking to migrate to Sofia. Is rent paid monthly or annually
Monthly
Damn that butter is expansive, same as the beef.
Would it be worth it to use a currency trade app to start purchasing Lev or Euro as the dollar falls?
I live in France and there are some things cheaper here than on your list
Very strange but true
What area? Know anything about Nice?
@@ZONEPRESSLLC I don't live in Nice it's too expensive for me.
Where I live in the east of France to be more precise 😉
@@ZONEPRESSLLCif you go to Lidl or Aldi in Nice the prices will be the same than other places in France
I live in Veliko Tarnovo and its cheaper.
Capital cities generally are more expensive
if you think you can live with 600$ in Sofia in 2023 as a foreigner you are totally deluded Ahahaha bulgarians might be because they own their place but that's it, 600$ is not even the salary of a cashier so aim for 1100-1300$ minimum to live a normal life (not even fancy)
If you listened correct, it was send the average cost of living is $600 without accommodation
600$ is still lower than the average Net (yes, net not gross) salary in Sofia which is 1100$ or 1032€. This is how much the average person in Sofia earns. And keep in mind these are statistics, many people make more than that. (And not its not only IT guys like foreigners tend to think), anyone working for less than
600$ is considered less than the average salary for the whole country. Yes families in villages live with that much but in Sofia that amount would go nowhere.
@@dwartbg1 yes that's exactly what i was trying to express, stop telling foreigners it's possible to live with 600€ in Bulgaria even less in sofia also as you said it people here don't declare all the incomes to the state so the average (net) is probably around 1500€, the median (net) might be lower
@EuroMaidan2083 Exactly thats true too. Foreigners tend to think locals dont make more than the average salaries given by official sources and statistics but most have more than one job or contract at the same place, some have both an official and an unofficial job or business and so on. So people make way more than what some foreigners believe. Thats how you see all these new luxury apartment buildings, people driving new cars and whatnot.
People are far from being rich, but they don't survive on 600$ or even the average salary either. As Im saying even the average salary cannot provide you a proper relaxed lifestyle. And as I said many foreigners dont know that we locals get bonuses and have more than one contract at our jobs. So you can say we earn more than one salary and the average for the whole year isnt just 12 times of the net salary given by statistics. There are many ways to make money here as long as you want to work.
I'll give one example of a normal Bulgarian born and raised in Sofia:
- you work somewhere
- at this job you also get bonuses around 4-5 times a year, many get a 13th salary which is a whole salary given at you in your December paycheck
- then maybe you get other contracts or projects in some months or days throughout the year
- then you also could own more than one property and you're renting an apartment or an office somewhere, it could be even a small kiosk for cigarettes, but that still brings you extra money every month
- then also you could also be selling some stuff online or heck even have some second business that you're doing in your free time
- then also we can count the money coming from your wife too
And then you can realistically imagine how a lot of the educated people live in Sofia. You can remove a thing or two, but most people dont rely solely on one job or business venture.
14:49 the owner can sell for whatever price he wishes? there is no control from the government? so the buyer has to pay whatever the owner wants? he can not make an offer below the ask price? what a load of bs, it's like an offer you can't refuse from some famous movie 😂
Holy fuck I thought it'd be cheaper there... capuchino, butter, meat, etc all at leaat as expensive as Amsterdam.
So the agent in your video said at least 500 Euro for an apartment... just bullshit.. She's an agent want profit so she refers to expensive apartment's. LOL.. we who lived here for many years, know the REAL prices..
The average price for rental in Sofia is around 350-400 €. 500€ is an absolutely normal price for 2023, these are the prices sadly. Thats how it is nowadays.
It seems Burgas is much cheaper for eating out etc. I found Sofia for eating out and the supermarkets not much difference to the UK and Malta where I am now.
@Rachel Collins Prices in Supermarkets are the same in Bulgaria (at least thats the case for the main ones like Kaufland, Lidl etc.) Only restaurant and bar prices can differ between cities.
Bullshit, possible to get studio apartment for single person 300-350 euro, 500+ euro is for 2/3 bedroom apartments which are for whole families, not single person.
1 bus ticket=infinity
extremely long video and probably already out of date since inflation and the prices of food, energy and rent being so volatile
Why do all u brits go to Sunny beach when there is the whole of the black sea coast with its beauty and scenery and history ,to enjoy. ?
I guess there is not a lot of publicity of the other areas, travel agencies are only interested in Sunny Beach and no one else is doing anything to advertise the resorts in foreign countries
In the UK things are cheaper in Bulgaria. The only reason this country exists is the immigrants who still send money. Overpriced costs of food, but the wages are below compared to Western Europe. Then oh don't compare Bulgaria to the West because it's poor. Even though why do the prices keep getting higher than the prices in Western Europe? So I can tell you how. The country doesn't have profits from exports. Whatever these exports are they are not profitable for the country. Massive corruption and a grey economy in this country that average workers are forced to work up to 84 hours a week to get a wage of around 800-900 leva which is equal to 380-390£ per month! I won't cover the higher-paid minority workers because they represent 1-5% of society, while everyone else is facing these challenges.
There's only 1% of the whole population that doesn't have a debt to pay to the bank. So how it goes you might ask. You get your wages you pay high energy bills, bank debt, and transport if you use and buy less from the supermarket because you can't afford to buy anything else except toilet paper, rice, egg, and Oil(which is super expensive) for cooking, milk, bean seeds and rarely meat
(most of the chicken is full of water, not meat)
Then you get sick and you pay ridiculous prices for medicine stuff. Every day you are bombarded with ads about fast credit, medical products and gambling ads. Laws that nobody follows, gipsy's are low educated than the natives and still live better than them and can kill you for just 2 leva. Worst country to live and I know this because I'm Bulgarian.
Bulgaria is not the ads you see on TH-cam on how Sunny Beach, Varna Nessebar, Albena, Golden Sands, Bansko, and Pamporovo great is to visit. That's why houses are cheaper but it's not worth living there unless you plan to live alone in the mountains away from people.
Totally agree, video coming soon a bout this to create awareness
Stop fear mongering Westeners with your boring Bulgariaphobia, if they have a normal income as an expat, retirement or any sort of passive income Bulgaria is the perfect place to live. Low taxes, cheapest cost of living in the Eurozone, wonderful nature, culture, food and a piece of paradise where you can escape from the Western lifestyle, all the economic issues you prescribed are not endemic to Bulgaria, they are exacerbated in every EU country especially the G7. The country has significantly improved its standard of living, GDP is projected to double in 2030 with huge investment (mainly from the EU commission and foreign investment) in transport infrastructure of rails and roads, digitalization of education and bureaucracy, transition to a knowledge based economy with a focus on STEM and telecommunications. You think the West is any different? Go live in the UK or France for a few years and you will quickly start to regret ever even thinking about moving away from the country that has everything to offer. Thankfully people like you will move away and make the house prices cheaper for people looking to move in so they can actually appreciate the country for what it is and stop hating on it
I want to come to Bulgaria in purpose study. Could you please help me to give right information? My question is that will i get job opportunity while studying? How does students income
Shame on you for trashing your country in such a horrible way. Bulgaria is beautiful and exists because of the many young, smart and motivated people who appreciate it instead of complaining about everything,Bulgaria has one of the oldest and most significant histories in the world, not to mention its beautiful nature. Many foreigners appreciate our land and what it has to offer but unfortunately our main problem are people like you who would rather live abroad instead of doing something productive and meaningful in their own country. Yes, many things like wages,prices, and corruption are an issue,however, the way you describe it all is exaggerated and untrue. Sadly you’re one of those Bulgarians who blame their failures on the country, the government, their families, etc, so your opinion comes from a place of hatred and dissatisfaction. Much more can be said, but actions speak louder than words, and yes, I am happy in my country as many people are. To those who have read my comment,please come to visit us and enjoy our spectacular, small but also very rich country.Thank you❤
@@khabirulislam-vl1sm The Sofia University(considered the prestigious from the whole country) states: Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski offers Bachelor and Master study programs in English.
Bachelor’s degree programs in English include European Union and European Integration, African Studies, Philosophy. The degree takes four years.
If you are interested in obtaining a Master’s degree, you can choose from more than 20 different study programs! Some of them are Business Administration, Public Administration, Genetics and Genomics, Medicine, Organizational psychology and cross-cultural management, Pharmacy.
Most applicants at Sofia University choose to study Medicine in English. The duration of the program is six years (12 semesters). The tuition fees are 7700 EUR per year (3350 EUR per semester). An entrance exam in Biology and Chemistry is a must to pass. Every year around 50 applicants get a university spot.
Another study program that is a common choice among foreign students at Sofia University is Pharmacy in English. The English program was introduced in 2019 and the duration of the course is 5 years (10 semesters). As for tuition fees, students in Pharmacy in English pay 6000 EUR per academic year (3000 EUR per semester). Applicants must pass an entrance exam in Biology and Chemistry. The study program includes an internship.
The academic year is divided into a winter and a summer semester. Lessons usually start around September and end around June, so students have a long summer break. Tuition fees vary depending on the study program.
Full-time students at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski are allowed to apply for a student loan. They can do this at a local bank in Bulgaria or their home country - this is often the case for students coming from Germany or Sweden. There are no scholarships provided by the university to cover the tuition fees.
I hope it gives you information. More info here: www.interhecs.com/study-in-bulgaria/