Helpful Information
Prices in Bulgaria

One of the main reasons why people buy property in Bulgaria is the cost of living. Bulgaria is an ideal place for retirement because it offers low prices as well as good health care facilities and a mild climate. But not only retirees move to Bulgaria. A large number of younger adults and families are relocating to Bulgaria. When you look at the information on this page, you will understand why.
Bulgaria is probably best known for its low property prices but what may be less widely appreciated is that the cost of living here is about a third of that in the UK. While some items, such as petrol at around 1.90 BGN (Bulgarian Leva) or £0.90 a litre, are more expensive, direct price comparisons of non-imported food, clothing, electrical goods and furniture reflect around 30 to 35% of UK costs, with utility bills and municipal tax (council tax) at an even lower level. This year, for instance, the total municipal tax that we paid on our four houses and two plots of land was 240 BGN or about £120.
No matter how attractive the cost of living might be, though, it’s not a good idea to come to Bulgaria without a source of income but, having said that, the fact is that many expats are pleasantly surprised at just how easy it is to live comfortably on a British pension or to find ways of generating an income to fund their new lifestyle. And in terms of accumulating cash rather than spending it, the banks offer a wide array of attractive savings account options. A typical fixed term account, for instance, would generate a return of around 7% a year on cash invested for two years, with even higher rates for longer term commitments.
Bulgaria is a cheap holiday destination, not only because of the lower cost of the accommodation, but because of the over-all cheaper prices. All local products in Bulgaria - like vegetables, meat & milk (and their products), drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) - are at least a third of what you would pay for similar item in UK, Germany or France. Only imported items carry significant cost.
Holiday makers who like to eat out will find that restaurants in Bulgaria server great food at low cost, especially if you avoid the typical tourist restaurants. How to recognize the tourists restaurants - look inside before you enter them and if you see 100% tourists inside, then you can be sure these are for tourists.