Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to Japan
Currency:
| Food | + 7% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 7% more expensive than in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 21 лв (¥1,865) | ¥1,035 | + 80% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 19 лв (¥1,678) | ¥820 | + 105% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 9 лв (¥748) | ¥618 | + 21% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.42 лв (¥300) | ¥237 | + 26% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (¥735) | ¥335 | + 119% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 5.02 лв (¥440) | ¥439 | + 0% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (¥861) | ¥1,195 | - 28% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 3.11 лв (¥272) | ¥822 | - 67% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.25 лв (¥197) | ¥509 | - 61% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.10 лв (¥184) | ¥312 | - 41% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 21 лв (¥1,827) | ¥1,267 | + 44% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 3.30 лв (¥290) | ¥276 | + 5% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.28 лв (¥112) | ¥293 | - 62% | |
| Housing | - 48% | |||
| Housing in Bulgaria is 48% cheaper than in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,463 лв (¥128,229) | ¥365,082 | - 65% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 997 лв (¥87,381) | ¥197,811 | - 56% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 243 лв (¥21,277) | ¥19,132 | + 11% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 967 лв (¥84,772) | ¥145,654 | - 42% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 785 лв (¥68,805) | ¥106,059 | - 35% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 156 лв (¥13,690) | ¥8,349 | + 64% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 18 лв (¥1,560) | ¥4,448 | - 65% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 607 лв (¥53,198) | ¥74,559 | - 29% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 181 лв (¥15,820) | ¥25,414 | - 38% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 21 лв (¥1,855) | ¥1,338 | + 39% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 25 лв (¥2,198) | ¥2,815 | - 22% | |
| Clothes | + 48% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 48% more expensive than in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 159 лв (¥13,976) | ¥9,315 | + 50% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 81 лв (¥7,106) | ¥5,103 | + 39% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 221 лв (¥19,325) | ¥10,686 | + 81% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 186 лв (¥16,331) | ¥12,189 | + 34% | |
| Transportation | - 11% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 11% cheaper than in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 57,465 лв (¥5,036,121) | ¥3,060,780 | + 65% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.58 лв (¥226) | ¥169 | + 33% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 55 лв (¥4,804) | ¥8,198 | - 41% | |
| Personal Care | - 14% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is 14% cheaper than in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 18 лв (¥1,577) | ¥2,133 | - 26% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 33 лв (¥2,925) | ¥2,551 | + 15% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 81 лв (¥7,084) | - | - | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 7 лв (¥583) | ¥1,337 | - 56% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв (¥569) | ¥930 | - 39% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 8 лв (¥700) | ¥622 | + 13% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 4.06 лв (¥356) | ¥224 | + 59% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 4.75 лв (¥416) | ¥188 | + 122% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 28 лв (¥2,428) | ¥4,604 | - 47% | |
| Entertainment | - 3% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is about the same as in Japan | ||||
| Bulgaria | Japan | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 53 лв (¥4,634) | ¥4,908 | - 6% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 37 лв (¥3,248) | ¥3,881 | - 16% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 50 лв (¥4,424) | ¥7,212 | - 39% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 118 лв (¥10,329) | ¥8,269 | + 25% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 14 лв (¥1,227) | ¥1,244 | - 1% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.17 лв (¥453) | ¥547 | - 17% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.56 лв (¥400) | ¥674 | - 41% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,897 лв (¥166,260) | ¥51,659 | + 222% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.33 лв (¥29) | ¥52 | - 45% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 72 лв (¥6,285) | ¥9,530 | - 34% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 8 лв (¥669) | ¥613 | + 9% | |
| TOTAL | - 15% | |||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 558 prices entered by 136 different people.
These prices were last updated on July 11, 2025.
Exchange rate:
87.638
JPY
/
BGN
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 15% cheaper than in Japan
Other Country Comparisons
- Cost of living in Argentina is 13% cheaper than in Japan
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is 42% more expensive than in Japan
- Cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda is 13% more expensive than in Japan
- Cost of living in Armenia is 7% cheaper than in Japan
- Cost of living in Anguilla is 83% more expensive than in Japan
- Cost of living in Andorra is 31% more expensive than in Japan
- Cost of living in Antarctica is in Japan
- Cost of living in Afghanistan is 39% cheaper than in Japan