Cost of Living & Quality of Life in Bulgaria (2026)
What everyday life costs in Bulgaria — rent, utilities, eating out, transport and schooling — and how it scores on safety, health care, pollution and climate compared with Eastern Europe.
- Quality of Life Index
- 133.5
- 2024
- Safety Index
- 62.9
- 2024
- Health Care Index
- 57.2
- 2024
- Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre
- $570/mo
- 2024
- Meal, inexpensive restaurant
- $8.73
- 2024
- Average monthly net salary
- $889
- 2024
Quality of life trends in Bulgaria
Typical living costs in Bulgaria
US dollars; national figures are medians/averages across cities reported to Numbeo.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent: 1-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $570/mo | 2024 | +29.7% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 1-bedroom, outside centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre | $334/mo | 2023 | +9.8% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 3-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $782/mo | 2023 | +5.3% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Utilities for an 85 m² apartmentElectricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage, monthly | $115/mo | 2023 | -10.0% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Internet (60 Mbps+)Unlimited broadband, monthly | $12.88/mo | 2023 | -0.1% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Mobile plan (calls + 10GB)Monthly mobile phone plan | $16.71/mo | 2023 | — | Numbeo |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurantCountry median of city prices | $8.73 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Dinner for two, mid-range restaurantThree-course meal for two, country median of city prices | $36.61 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| CappuccinoRegular cappuccino, country median of city prices | $1.78 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Public transport monthly passCountry median of city prices | $28.16 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Gasoline (1 litre)Country median of city prices | $1.49 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Fitness club membershipCountry median of city prices | $33.27/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Private preschool (full day)Country median of city prices | $406/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Average monthly net salaryAverage monthly salary after tax | $889 | 2024 | -14.3% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
Quality of life indices
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life IndexComposite index (higher is better) | 133.5 | 2024 | +1.4% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Safety IndexPerceived safety (higher is safer) | 62.9 | 2024 | +1.5% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Health Care IndexPerceived quality of the health care system | 57.2 | 2024 | +0.9% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Pollution IndexPerceived pollution (lower is better) | 63.3 | 2024 | -0.6% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Climate IndexClimate likeability (higher is more pleasant) | 82.8 | 2024 | ±0% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Year | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Pollution Index | Climate Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 133.5 | 62.9 | 57.2 | 63.3 | 82.8 |
| 2023 | 131.6 | 62 | 56.7 | 63.7 | 82.8 |
| 2022 | 130.1 | 61.3 | 56.4 | 64.3 | 82.8 |
| 2021 | 126.3 | 61.9 | 56.1 | 64.5 | 82.8 |
| 2020 | 129.8 | 61.5 | 55.4 | 65.3 | 82.8 |
| 2019 | 130.6 | 60 | 54 | 64 | 82.8 |
| 2018 | 129.7 | 60.3 | 52.1 | 63 | 81.6 |
| 2017 | 138.2 | 59.8 | 54 | 63.1 | 77.1 |
Bulgaria compared with Eastern Europe
| Country | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Meal, inexpensive restaurant | Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 133.5 | 62.9 | 57.2 | $8.73 | $570/mo |
| Belarus | 119.3 | 49.2 | 48 | $9.17 | $387/mo |
| Czech Republic | 163.6 | 73.2 | 75.5 | $8.30 | $895/mo |
| Hungary | 133.2 | 66.3 | 54 | $9.01 | $575/mo |
| Moldova | — | — | — | $7.72 | $391/mo |
| Poland | 137.4 | 69.3 | 55.4 | $10.23 | $647/mo |
| Romania | 129.2 | 66.3 | 56.3 | $8.85 | $460/mo |
| Russia | 106.1 | 60.9 | 60.9 | $7.09 | $371/mo |
| Slovakia | 148.7 | 68.9 | 59.2 | $8.81 | $709/mo |
| Ukraine | 107.2 | 53.1 | 55.4 | $6.06 | $370/mo |
Related
Source: Numbeo (indices and prices, crowd-sourced). Salary is the average monthly net wage.