Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! Recently, the city has become an attraction for digital nomads thanks to its vast range of suitable cafes and coworking spaces. Bulgaria has been chosen by a number of expatswho wanted to get home or Internet-based businesses off the ground for the specific reason that their tax burden would be low. Of course, there are downsides to living in Bulgaria, but the positives are truly great. Theres a youthfulness to the city that I find extremely inspiring, with young people constantly opening new businesses. Living in Veliko Tarnovo is a great option for expat retirees as the city is large yet provides a sense of calmness and authenticity with pleasant summers and snowy beautiful winters. Your email address will not be published. Read More Stories on Our Expat Life Page Get New Posts and More Straight to Your Inbox With the Robe Trotting Newsletter. I stumbled across this whilst idly surfing, Im not considering leaving Blighty. 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! My husband works for an American company here in Sofia, helping their Portuguese team with customer support. During the cold season, you can go skiing in popular ski resorts like Borovets, which is an hour and a half drive from the city. Were Derek and Mike 2 Americans living in Europe who love to travel the world. Other Black Sea resorts include Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, St Constantine and Helena. Just be careful if youre taking a walk to the bar with food in your hands. My biggest concern is finding a job with an American company there. I shop in malls more often than boutiques, and supermarkets more often than the farmers markets and specialty markets I used to be able to find all over NYC. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask the neighbours. Fruit and vegetables are for sale everywhere and are the most delicious. 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). 14- There is still poverty in Bulgaria. the fertility rate in Bulgaria is 1.43child per woman. With a monthly budget of 800 1000 lv (349/$483-436/$604) without rent for a single person, you will enjoy a comfortable living. I joke that its bizarre that my circle in Sofia is an American, a Zimbabwean, and a Brazilian, but thats the reality! Varna is popular for its seagull population, keep in mind that theyre quite intrusive. So, what are the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria? In Bulgaria both boys and girls dress trendy and in tight-fitting clothing. From our contacts and from forums, the answer is yes: you can still open a Bulgarian bank account as a non-resident (although one Bulgarian, who had helped a non-resident Greek contact open an account recently, told us it was a challenging task). The coolest neighborhoods in the city are the area around Lions Bridge (Lavov Most) near where the Kvartal festival is held, the neighborhood of Oborishte, and the neighborhood of Lozonets. Get to grips, too, with some Bulgarian etiquette: dont point your index finger, dont ever slap someone on the back, and remember that you nod no and shake your head for yes. This charming city is home to many expats, from students studying in the prestigious Medical University to retirees seeking the comfort of a beautiful and fulfilling city by the sea. 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. Read more in Expatras guide to international removals. Bansko may be popular for its natural riches but an interesting fact is that it also offers some of the fastest Internet! In addition, most central areas are now part of the Blue Zone, meaning that parking is not free. Unlike other retirement hotspots in Europe, Bulgaria does not have obvious expat enclaves. Its located on the banks of the Maritsa river in the Thrace region, southeast of Sofia. 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 . I have a few local friends, but mostly Ive stuck to the expat community, as my husband works with mostly Portuguese people and my business partner here is American. Regards, Hi Mark, you can find detailed information on various locations in Bulgaria in our location guides here: https://expatra.com/guides/bulgaria/. Bulgaria (especially Sofia) has become incredibly interesting to me recently. Staying connected back home is tough, and being an expat in Sofia during the times of coronavirus, its been a lot harder. It has also steadily been climbing in the last 5 years. 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. HOW DO YOU TRANSFER MONEY INTERNATIONALLY? Emilie, thank you for you Intro. A. Living in Bulgaria! 24.9%. Infrastructure (particularly roads and sidewalks) is bad, improvements to it are slow and slipshod, and these things which you overlook when you first move somewhere can grate on the nerves after a handful of years. When it comes to the cost of living, the average monthly budget of a family of four ranges between 2,500 lv (1,091/$1,511) and 3,000 lv (1,309/$1,813) without rent. Follow us on Instagram. Being the poorest and maybe the most corrupted EU member country takes some comfort away. Im struck with homesickness a lot of the time, even though I know that home is a deeply broken place, and Im terrified of whats happening in America on a public health, political, and moral level. Your stay in Bulgaria as an expat could be extremely different based on where you choose to live. 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. I hope this story helps, good luck with your move! You know when everyone was smiling? For a single person, a good monthly budget would be 750 lv (327/$453). When driving in Bulgaria, carry your passport or ID card, driving licence, registration card, insurance documents and vehicle inspection card. 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.). Its very useful to consider the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria before you move, but you need to spend an extended time exploring before you commit to your relocation. To join the public healthcare system, you will need to register with the National Health Insurance Fund and pay compulsory contributions. To put it simply, Plovdiv doesnt disappoint in any way. 3-low birth rates since Bulgarian families normally have one child, maximum two. You can ship your belongings to Bulgaria by sea, air or land; its close enough to drive your stuff over and pets yourself too. Emilie is a public relations expert based in Sofia, 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. Britons will have to go through the immigration procedures set for non-EU citizens. The men tend to physically look after themselves well, that makes it a good place to look for your better half and get married if you still dont. Dobrich is popular for its relatively balanced weather and amazing spring and autumn seasons. Therefore, if youare considering Bulgaria, it is one of those nations where preconceptions count for very little. Ill be forthright and say that Sofia is definitely not the easiest city to live in in Europe, and its not for everyone. Whats more, those who took their time exploring the nation before committing to one city, town or village based on only limited research have settled in more effectively. 6 Times Cheaper than Old-school Bank Transfers, >>>USE THIS LINK FOR A FREE TRANSFER (up to 500 GBP/680 USD)<<<. Expats choose to live in Varna for many reasons, however, the main one is the wonderful golden sands of Varnas coastline. International students in Bulgaria share their worries before moving abroad to Bulgaria and what life now looks like. 1. as slaves, as in the Blacks in America in the 16-18 Century. Haskovo is an extremely safe town to live in and you dont need to worry that youll be mugged, robbed, pickpocketed, or that your house will be broken into. It is not until students reach the 10th grade that they can slightly personalise their educational curriculum. Best places to live in Bulgaria 1. As a result of moving to Bulgaria a few years ago, she has a lot to share about what life is like in the country. Place where they grow fruits and vegetables for their needs, its a tradition to go on weekends and on vacations to the small farm and work the land. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With over 90 neighbourhoods, you can expect a different vibe in every city area. The small town is a brilliant place to live in all year long. On the other hand, many have fallen in love with Bulgarias old-world charm and tradition, some likening it to 1950s Britain. For instance, students are mostly located in Student Town (Studentski Grad) or the central parts of the city, while retirees and families would probably prefer a more relaxing and calm place like Pancharevo, Bistritsa, or Boyana. Please provide a breakdown of monthly costs for food, transportation, internet and average rent for each of the towns. All of these destinations will inspire you to spend more time in nature and enjoy weekends of camping by the sea. Its a perfect location for expats who are fond of a green way of living and are looking forward to having the opportunity to move into a spacious house with a garden, where they can grow their own food and crops. 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. Dealing with those could literally shorten your life span! The rate of homeownership in Bulgaria is high, at close to 90 percent, with many Bulgarians inheriting land and even a second home. Plovdiv - the new go-to for digital nomads and expats 3. One of the greatest things about living in Sofia is that if youre working as an expat and earning in another currency, like I do as an American working mostly with American companies, you can really splurge on a lot of daily activities. American rock legends Kiss will hang it up, at least in the live sense, at the end of a fifty-year career when they play their final two shows on December 1 and 2 at New York City's Madison Square Garden. 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. If youre wondering about where you want to spend your time as an expat retiree, Bulgaria is certainly among the top choices. I guess its best kept under wraps. 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. In a country where the minimum wage is 286 (245) a month, according to Eurostat, rents and utilities are low and a foreign pension can go a long way. and there are also few flights that connect both cities in less than an hour. She runs her own digital content consultancy, Locke Digital. There has always been a bit of friendly competition between Varna and Burgas locals when it comes to which city is better. 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. Leslie Grantham: Bulgarias most famed Briton? You can choose your GP so most expats tend to choose a local and/or English-speaking doctor. The average salary as of December 2020 in Bulgaria is around 1500 leva(657.10 / $915.49). There were a lot of tears and several meltdowns along the way, but eventually we registered our company in Bulgaria. A monthly budget of 1,200 lv ($722/530) for a family or two will offer a perfect way of living, rent excluded. Bulgaria makes it onto Expatras list of the cheapest countries to retire and is also on our hugely popular annual list of the best places to retire abroad from the UK. Next up on the list is Plovdiv, Bulgarias second-largest city. In Bulgaria they can afford a pretty affluent life. A single person can do well with around 800 lv (349/$483), rent excluded. 1-Living in Bulgaria will be an adventure , doesn't matter what kind of person you are and what you want out of life. Thankyou. A family of four can conveniently live in Veliko Tarnovo for about 2,800 lv (1,221/$1,692), excluding rent. 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. Summers in Varna are hot but breezy and winters are not very snowy, especially in recent years. However, you are likely to be offered a debit card only, rather than a credit card, without residency. 10 minuta, anonimno i nije dosadno! its Just delicious, and national classic Bulgarian breakfast is coffee and a cigarette, joke, the traditional breakfast is at banitza filled with Bulgarian white cheese. In this guide, we are bringing you both the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria as an expat. Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. Private international schools like the Ango-Americal School of Sofia offer a range of extracurricular activities, student clubs, and events for students to attend. Bulgaria can provide you with very different experiences depending on whether you live in one of the cities, or in smaller towns and villages. There are a few ways to find a long-term apartment rental in Bulgaria. International students will have the ability to meet Bulgarian peers, dive into the rich culture and learn new Bulgarian words. 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. Thanks for this post! The city didn't resonate with me immediately, but after a few weeks of staying in Sofia, I slowly began to fall in love with all that it had to offer. To enrol in the Bulgarian healthcare system, you must first get your residency. 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. Flat tax rates 2. I dont see myself living in Bulgaria forever. It's one of the most pedestrianised cities in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a place with many problems where life isnt easy. Veliko Tarnovo - a historically rich and truly beautiful city 5. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, 2. So what is it like to live in Bulgaria and how do you go about moving and settling down there? A lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria, Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria, 2. Plovdivs Old Town is bound to steal your heart at a first glance. Its completely natural to see deers, boards, rabbits, hares, and squirrels moving through the villages. Authentic culture 5. There are also a number of amazing places to visit near Veliko Tarnovo, like Arbanassi, Elena, and Gabrovo. What are the average living costs in Bulgaria? You may need to take a translator and/ or lawyer with you if you dont speak Bulgarian, although one person told us that the teller at the branch in Sofia they went to spoke good English. Varna - the perfect sea-side living 4. 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