7. Bulgaria is a funny country it seems to have an almost equal number of expatriates happy ordisaffected with life in Bulgaria. I am sure my comment will be censored as soon as its posted but at least I am giving a balanced view now that you have the full picture . The mountains are stunning and the ski resorts are so breathtaking nothing to envy to any other country in the world. Its 100% car-free, with small cosy stress and traditional Bulgarian houses. DSK Expressbank and Postbank were both recommended as Bulgarian banks for foreigners. Overall, Sofia is considered a safe city but nothing is ever certain. But to settle well you must truly integrate into the community and learning the language properly is a must. 1. Bulgaria is eminent for its ability to successfully prepare students thoroughly in studies like maths, history, arts, languages and literature, biology, chemistry, and others. 2. There are trams and buses and a metro system, though, so public transit is good: Im just not taking it now in the times of coronavirus. The locals are friendly and speak good English, making it easy for expats to get around. Best places to live in Bulgaria 1. Summers can touch 35 or even 40 in some areas like Plovdiv and south Bulgaria. Heavy snow in winter, driving a little zanier than you are used to in the UK and potholes mean you will probably want a four-wheel-drive vehicle and will drive on the right side of the road. There are a lot of natural honey producers here. A lot of things go into a custody decision and corresponding parenting plan, writes Dr. Jann Blackstone. They attract a very good salary which they can live on here exceptionally well, especially if they work remotely for a company from abroad. Popovo is a lovely, small town in North-Eastern Bulgaria, surrounded by forests and magnificent nature. Because Gypsies menace daily lives in Bulgaria, Romania quite a bit and that should be a part of the equation for older US expats living in these countries. 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. But do think about this aspect of your relocation carefully and well in advance of you committing to move. In Bulgaria both boys and girls dress trendy and in tight-fitting clothing. There are multiple groups on Facebook that can help you. 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. I work entirely for myself the entire time Ive lived in Sofia. Regards, Hi Mark, you can find detailed information on various locations in Bulgaria in our location guides here: https://expatra.com/guides/bulgaria/. However, if youre an EU citizen, moving to Sofia is a piece of cake, and it will require dealing with some grumpy migration officers, but its nothing more than some basic paperwork (albeit in Cyrillic) at the end of the day. Bulgaria has aNet loss of one person every 11 minutes. :D Cijenimo lina uea, dijeljenje upitnika i upvotes. I like that I know the ins and outs of the best sights, restaurants, and things to do in Sofia, but I struggle with a lot of day-to-day interactions, like figuring out an issue with paying bills or handling paperwork at the migration office. 1-Living in Bulgaria will be an adventure , doesn't matter what kind of person you are and what you want out of life. 6. Bulgaria uses the lev (plural: leva), which is pegged to the Euro at roughly 2:1. Allison Green is a travel writer and podcaster based out of Sofia, Bulgaria. Other beneficial activities include language learning in a multicultural environment with modern and advanced methods and a rich pool of young, enthusiastic, and dedicated Bulgarian and foreign teachers. Find out what its like living in a new country and a new culture while traveling the world as a gay American couple. Being aware of them before you relocate can make a huge difference to your overall experience. The average salary as of December 2020 in Bulgaria is around 1500 leva(657.10 / $915.49). Coffees are much cheaper here than in the rest of Europe. 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. The cost of living in Varna is similar to that of Sofia. It was so much easier in New York. 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. Living in Bulgaria - Pros & Cons Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria 1. It is rare to find such a well considered and informative article that isnt trying to sell something. Just because Bansko is a popular ski destination doesnt mean that youll freeze living there. The truth about living in Bulgaria | American's point of view (funny) Lifey 234K subscribers Subscribe 92K views 3 years ago The truth about living in Bulgaria | An American's point of view. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! Every expat has to at some point. You can visit its magnificent mountains, take a trip to the seaside where the cities never sleep or explore its authentic and traditional old villages. Nice articlethanks. As the country is becoming more popular with expats, they discover other locations as well. Plovdiv is a great place to live in for both locals and expats. 24.9%. I dont see myself living in Bulgaria forever. With over 90 neighbourhoods, you can expect a different vibe in every city area. You can live a pretty luxurious life without checking your budget too frequently without thinking too much about it. 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. Renting a good two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood of Sofia will cost you around 700 - 800 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), about 300 - 340. A lot of people describe Bansko as a small outdoor paradise. Bulgaria is a nation that has retained its national identity, history, culture and tradition it has certainly not sold out to the west. You will need a Bulgarian bank account in order to buy property, residents told us. The freelancer visa is nearly impossible to get, not least because it starts with speaking B1-level Bulgarian (which is hard to do unless you already live here.). Thankyou, you have provided me with the desire to explore deeper into the possibility of living in Bulgaria, Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are also a number of amazing places to visit near Veliko Tarnovo, like Arbanassi, Elena, and Gabrovo. They do not abide by any rules and enjoy a protected criminal lifestyle by virtue of being a minority . Rent in Bulgaria on averageis 74.06% lower than in the UK. Our previous 1-bedroom apartment in the center had been 350 euro a month, and when my husband lived in a studio, he had a gorgeous one for just 220 euro a month. Its the perfect place to explore what nature has to offer and connect with our planet. 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. The percentage of homeownership in Bulgaria is very high, but if you're moving to the country for the first time as an expat, it's probably best to start with renting.If you start renting, you can test out different cities and see which one you prefer, then once you start to settle down, you can think about making a more permanent investment. 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. Once you have your certificate of residence, you need to apply for a Bulgarian ID card or lichna karta. The largest community is in the capital, Sofia. I was about to leave Sofia and try somewhere else in Europe, as I was so frustrated by the process of moving here, when I met the man who would later be my husband! To the west of Sofia is the spa town of Bankya, about 20-30 minutes away. Perhaps our report on the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria will help and inspire you to move. Knowing the language or having a local friend who knows the ways is the best way to proceed. The Greek neighbourhood is also an area that expats love to explore as it offers amazing architecture, small vibrant streets, and attractive street shops and coffee shops. There are two lakes surrounding Dobrich, offering a delightful opportunity to spend evenings outside. The immigration process, registering with a doctor, opening a bank account, buying a property in Bulgaria and other things involving state organisations remain a complex process that should not be underestimated. Bulgaria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. If youre wondering about where you want to spend your time as an expat retiree, Bulgaria is certainly among the top choices. From visas to housing to the cost of a kebab this helpful guide should give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its a city of central location and is extremely close to Varna and Balchik. Housing in Bulgaria. Emilie is a public relations expert based in Sofia, Bulgaria. I guess its best kept under wraps. Paperwork can be painful. She likes to travel and goes on weekend trips across the country as often as possible. I will be the first to admit that a lot of my struggle here is because I havent acclimated here nearly as much as I should have: I still dont speak much of the language, and I struggle to find new and creative ways to put the 500-odd words of Bulgarian I speak into new configurations without having to ever conjugate a verb. The biggest attraction, the citys symbol, and one of the countrys most beloved monuments is the Tsarevets Fortress. Popovo may not be a large city but it also has delicious food to offer in a few quality restaurants. What are the average living costs in Bulgaria? Dealing with those could literally shorten your life span! This is a great blog! 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) 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. Follow us on Instagram. Having said all of the above, however, it is possible to contrast each and every positive with a negativeand it seems it may well be down to a matter of personal opinion as to whether Bulgaria is a good place to live or not! This will give you access to a GP, referrals to a specialist, and medicines at reduced prices or for free. Its what I was doing before I came to Bulgaria, but now, I have more focus and purpose being based in one place. Tell us more about your life there ! Expat Advice for the First 30 Days Abroad, Tips for Learning the Local Language as an Expat, The 10 BEST Provincetown Airbnb Rentals to Book NOW, 16 Best Strasbourg Airbnb Homes to Book Today, 16 Perfect Sitges Airbnb Rentals to Book This Year. Its located near natural lakes. You wont get far without at least elementary Bulgarian and you should familiarise yourself with the alphabet. 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. Thanks for this post! 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. 8 Best reasons to retire to Bulgaria! I'll further discuss whether Bulgaria is attractive for expats or not. It was a nightmare though, and my lawyers were really awful at helping me navigate it, so possibly I could have had a better experience with a different lawyer. Friendly locals Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria 1. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages cost on average 65% less, and clothing costs are 75% less than the European Union average. Winters can be below -15. You may need to provide a clean UK criminal record certificate. 6- Traveling inside the country is relatively easy because everything is close together, trip Sofia- Varna (one of the longer distances to travel is only 450 km.) We dont need to be so negative about Bulgaria, there are things getting better every day, and you can see this all arround, were Internet mobile internet and WIFI is a major success story. 6 Times Cheaper than Old-school Bank Transfers, >>>USE THIS LINK FOR A FREE TRANSFER (up to 500 GBP/680 USD)<<<. A new and exciting bar, restaurant, coffee shop, or boutique seems to be opening up in the center nearly every other day. Staying connected back home is tough, and being an expat in Sofia during the times of coronavirus, its been a lot harder. Of course, they both have a lot to offer and theres no coincidence that theyre both on our list of top places for expats in Bulgaria. When people describe villages in Bulgaria, they describe horse and cart type of villages. Thank you so much for this article, I was thinking of retiring to Portugal but now, I have changed my mind and am planning a trip to Bulgaria next year in 2022. Bulgaria is one of the European countries that has been attracting a large number of expats in recent years and there are many reasons why. 2-Bulgarias population is reducing fast. 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. 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