Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to China
Currency:
| Food | + 33% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 33% more expensive than in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 17 лв (71元) | 42元 | + 69% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (68元) | 36元 | + 86% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 8 лв (32元) | 15元 | + 117% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.40 лв (14元) | 14元 | + 5% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (32元) | 16元 | + 109% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.17 лв (18元) | 11元 | + 68% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (44元) | 50元 | - 11% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.86 лв (12元) | 16元 | - 25% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.13 лв (9元) | 7元 | + 36% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.33 лв (10元) | 7元 | + 48% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 21 лв (89元) | 94元 | - 6% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 3.12 лв (13元) | 9元 | + 54% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.05 лв (4.45元) | 13元 | - 64% | |
| Housing | - 32% | |||
| Housing in Bulgaria is 32% cheaper than in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,292 лв (5,502元) | 12,848元 | - 57% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 872 лв (3,713元) | 5,937元 | - 37% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 218 лв (927元) | 450元 | + 106% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 786 лв (3,348元) | 6,875元 | - 51% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 705 лв (3,001元) | 3,656元 | - 18% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 174 лв (741元) | 296元 | + 150% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (72元) | 100元 | - 28% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 607 лв (2,585元) | 1,460元 | + 77% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 181 лв (769元) | 553元 | + 39% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 17 лв (74元) | 43元 | + 72% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 25 лв (107元) | 55元 | + 93% | |
| Clothes | + 27% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 27% more expensive than in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 118 лв (502元) | 418元 | + 20% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 89 лв (378元) | 296元 | + 27% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 204 лв (867元) | 553元 | + 57% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 186 лв (794元) | 705元 | + 13% | |
| Transportation | + 12% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 12% more expensive than in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 52,642 лв (224,168元) | 148,726元 | + 51% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.65 лв (11元) | 8元 | + 47% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 47 лв (200元) | 228元 | - 12% | |
| Personal Care | + 3% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is about the same as in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (64元) | 51元 | + 25% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (101元) | 84元 | + 21% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 78 лв (332元) | 114元 | + 192% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 7 лв (28元) | 67元 | - 58% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв (28元) | 57元 | - 51% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 8 лв (34元) | 25元 | + 36% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 4.06 лв (17元) | 7元 | + 149% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 3.73 лв (16元) | 13元 | + 27% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 28 лв (118元) | 85元 | + 39% | |
| Entertainment | + 37% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is 37% more expensive than in China | ||||
| Bulgaria | China | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 53 лв (225元) | 178元 | + 26% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 27 лв (115元) | 109元 | + 6% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 50 лв (215元) | 1,179元 | - 82% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 118 лв (502元) | 320元 | + 57% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 14 лв (60元) | 81元 | - 26% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.17 лв (22元) | 28元 | - 21% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.45 лв (19元) | 15元 | + 25% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,897 лв (8,079元) | 3,924元 | + 106% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.33 лв (1.41元) | 0.34元 | + 319% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 72 лв (305元) | 414元 | - 26% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 7 лв (32元) | 25元 | + 27% | |
| TOTAL | + 8% | |||
These prices were last updated on April 14, 2025.
Exchange rate:
4.258
CNY
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 1,073 prices entered by 173 different people.
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 8% more expensive than in China
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