If you don't want to be surprised by this different way of socially behaving, it might be best to read up on Bulgarian culture. I am from Sydney, Australia and I am looking at moving to Europe in the next 12 months. 0. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. I stayed for a month when I was still traveling around the world full-time. We avoid military conflicts, crime is low, we don't actively engage in heated political debates, public protests are rare (but avoid them if they do break out), and religions coexist happily on the whole. 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. Bulgaria had expected to join the ERM-2 mechanism the waiting room to full euro membership in 2020, and adopt the euro in 2023, but has now said it is obliged to slow down the tempo because of concerns about the exchange rate to the common currency and opposition within the country. You wont get far without at least elementary Bulgarian and you should familiarise yourself with the alphabet. Spend any time checking forums and youll find fairly even numbers of British expats extolling Bulgarias virtues or hauling it over the coals. When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian). 8- Bulgarian Cuisine: Thats why food is amazing a Balcan mixture that produces an interesting cuisine that relies on fresh vegetables during the summer, like Chopska Salad (on the picture) and Tarator soup, the traditional cold cucumber soup, more strong dishes for the winter time: baked Pork with sourekraut. 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. In this vlog, we explore some of the best reasons in retiring to one of Europe's most affordable . There are also a number of amazing places to visit near Veliko Tarnovo, like Arbanassi, Elena, and Gabrovo. You know when everyone was smiling? To enrol in the Bulgarian healthcare system, you must first get your residency. The language barrier dealing with anything bureaucratic or institutional is frustrating, and the infrastructure is a little dated and needs a lot of love. Thats a surprisingly big number for a country of just seven million inhabitants smaller than the city of London. Thankyou Suzanne Locke! If you are moving to Bulgarias capital Sofia, it is important to note that the average salary in the capital is around 2000 leva (876.13 / $1,220.66) for the same period. Hi Allison. It may take up to 14 days for your application to be approved, after which you may still have to return to the branch to actually open the account. Emilie, thank you for you Intro. 5- Another thing that makes Bulgaria famous its the nice sandy beaches, and the warm water temperature of the Black Sea in the summer season, the beaches can vary from lively and sports-facilitated beach stripes to calm and beautiful campsites. Long-term rent for 6-12 months is cheaper than if you're renting short-term. Bulgarias second city and Europes 2019 capital of culture. The city is also rich in all types of necessary institutions and amenities to make your stay comfortable and stress-free. Your email address will not be published. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! Varna - the perfect sea-side living 4. Bulgaria is becoming ever more popular with expats for whom the cheaper cost of living and a good healthy lifestyle are a priority. "In some ways I feel like a local, but in most ways I still feel like an outsider.". Bulgarian hotel and restaurant prices are apparently below half the average for the EU. The largest community is in the capital, Sofia. Finally, Bulgarians can be very friendly and welcoming, and they can adjust well to having foreign residents within their community. You can also get a beer for 2 leva about a Euro. A basic plan from Uniqa for a couple under 70 years old will cost 330 BGN (145) a year. Your stay in Bulgaria as an expat could be extremely different based on where you choose to live. For anyone looking to reduce the amount of tax they pay on their income or business profits, therefore, Bulgaria is definitely attractive! Staying connected back home is tough, and being an expat in Sofia during the times of coronavirus, its been a lot harder. Regardless of age, you cant really say youve been to Varna if you havent visited Cubo the most popular beach bar in the city. We strongly recommend renting a property in Bulgaria first, before you buy. 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. When it comes to buying, dont just rely on local friends to help with the language hire local, English-speaking notaries and attorneys. Bulgaria is a funny country it seems to have an almost equal number of expatriates happy ordisaffected with life in Bulgaria. They attract a very good salary which they can live on here exceptionally well, especially if they work remotely for a company from abroad. The LIMA app can help you with traffic and road conditions. 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. Bulgarias appeal was on the rise prior to and immediately following EU accession, and this resulted in a small wave of immigration particularly from the UK and Ireland. As a result, the expat community in the Bulgarian capital is well-developed and you can always find help and advice or make friends. Required fields are marked *. After divorcing, and having become familiar with the country and made friends, he himself moved to Bulgaria and bought an apartment, only returning to the UK shortly before his death in 2018. 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. Bulgaria is a nation that has retained its national identity, history, culture and tradition it has certainly not sold out to the west. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To keep informed, check ourLiving In Europe After Brexit guide on a regular basis. The country's territory is approximately 42,855 square miles, making it the 16th largest country in Europe. Bulgaria can provide you with very different experiences depending on whether you live in one of the cities, or in smaller towns and villages. Driving a car around the city centre may be difficult as parking is an issue. This is a great blog! Britons will have to go through the immigration procedures set for non-EU citizens. Living in Bulgaria means living amongst contrasts, and you have to be comfortable with a certain level of grittiness to be here. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. Bulgaria (especially Sofia) has become incredibly interesting to me recently. Bulgaria ranked 120th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 52nd best country to live in. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Bulgaria is wonderful only if you dont come into contact with its red-tape bureaucracy and horrid government institutions. I guess its best kept under wraps. A country house in a remote village could be yours for as little as 20,000 and you could heat it for around 70 a month, half the price it would cost you in the UK. The climate is pretty similar to that of Varna, offering the best of both summer and winter. 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. They tend to be the ones who have a solid income in place, and who are willing to learn the local language and completely adapt. Its big, spacious, and brand new with gorgeous views, though the price is definitely on the high end for the city we just were struggling to find a landlord who would let us have a dog, and we ended up having to go with a pricier apartment as a result of it. and there are also few flights that connect both cities in less than an hour. 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. Its located near natural lakes. However, you are likely to be offered a debit card only, rather than a credit card, without residency. You will have to renounce UK citizenship if you apply for Bulgarian citizenship after Brexit. For instance, we were told, in Vratsa you can open a bank account with 450 lev but in Shumen it is 1,000 lev and in Veliko Turnovo around 3,000 lev. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. The Ups and Downs of Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fitting in as an Expat Living in Bulgaria, Day to Day Life While Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Getting Around the City and Finding Housing, The Cultural Differences of Living in Bulgaria. Its 100% car-free, with small cosy stress and traditional Bulgarian houses. 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! 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. Yet in the city center, theres a literal yellow brick road, fairytale-like cathedrals and churches, and beautiful architecture that wouldnt be out of place in Moscow. If you are the kind of person who takes a considered approach to relocation, who has spent time getting to know Bulgaria before moving permanently, you have good chances to adjust well to what is an undoubtedly very beautiful country. It makes calculating costs a breeze! If you relocate to Bulgaria with the prospect of finding employment there you may find it very difficult to land yourself a job that will allow you to benefit from Bulgarias low cost of living. A huge caveat is that there is no social security agreement between the UK and Bulgaria, so your UK state pension will be frozen at its current rate upon first payment, with no increases linked to inflation. The mountains are stunning and the ski resorts are so breathtaking nothing to envy to any other country in the world. It has also steadily been climbing in the last 5 years. Its worth noting that renting in Burgas is cheaper, with a difference of around 40% in prices. So, make sure you are willing to live in that kind of environment if you are considering a rustic existence in Bulgaria, any way you wont be alone there are many expats that choose those regions and enjoy the positive side of a simpler life, there are regions close to Veliko Tarnovo, Dobrich, and Elhovo just to mention a few, with relatively big expats communities. and that you can unsubscribe any time. Another thing thats given me culture shock is how Bulgarians nod their yes but mean no, and vice versa! You also need to check the validity of your driver license in Bulgaria before start driving, paying bribes to the police is a practice that slowly disappearing (this is my own experience since I have got few tickets on the road, but never been asked for money). I run several travel blogs, including one focused on Bulgaria and the Balkans, and I make a living for myself that way and by occasionally taking on freelance writing projects or other sponsored work. Bansko may be popular for its natural riches but an interesting fact is that it also offers some of the fastest Internet! 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. Just because Bansko is a popular ski destination doesnt mean that youll freeze living there. 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. Thanks for this post! Paperwork can be painful. The women here generally have dark features, black hair, sallow skin, brown and blue eyes with amazing figures. To put it simply, Plovdiv doesnt disappoint in any way. Its just nice to know that you also have the alternative of witnessing food grow in front of your eyes. Other Black Sea resorts include Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, St Constantine and Helena. You can go on a hunt for natural beauty in the Pirin National Park, take advantage of the thermal baths, and discover a new way of living. Tips For Your Life in Bulgaria, Best Info and Advice for Expats. 4-Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. The law is strict when it comes to drink-driving, with almost zero tolerance (0.05 percent blood-alcohol limit) and you could face losing your licence and even jail time. They do not abide by any rules and enjoy a protected criminal lifestyle by virtue of being a minority . 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) Advice for expats language hire local, but in most ways I feel like a local, English-speaking and! 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