Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to United Kingdom
Currency:
| Food | - 33% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 33% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 17 лв (£7) | £15 | - 52% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв (£7) | £8 | - 10% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 8 лв (£3.22) | £3.96 | - 19% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.40 лв (£1.45) | £1.09 | + 32% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв (£3.25) | £3.70 | - 12% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.17 лв (£1.78) | £2.53 | - 30% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв (£4.45) | £4.82 | - 8% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.86 лв (£1.22) | £2.15 | - 43% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.13 лв (£0.91) | £0.92 | - 1% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.33 лв (£0.99) | £2.10 | - 53% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 21 лв (£9) | £10 | - 7% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 3.12 лв (£1.33) | £2.23 | - 40% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.05 лв (£0.45) | £1.06 | - 58% | |
| Housing | - 74% | |||
| Housing in Bulgaria is 74% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,292 лв (£551) | £2,764 | - 80% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 872 лв (£372) | £2,036 | - 82% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 218 лв (£93) | £188 | - 51% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 786 лв (£335) | £1,781 | - 81% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 705 лв (£300) | £1,282 | - 77% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 174 лв (£74) | £136 | - 46% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв (£7) | £27 | - 74% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 607 лв (£259) | £264 | - 2% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 181 лв (£77) | £90 | - 15% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 17 лв (£7) | £7 | + 4% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 25 лв (£11) | £14 | - 24% | |
| Clothes | - 9% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 9% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 118 лв (£50) | £73 | - 31% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 89 лв (£38) | £35 | + 9% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 204 лв (£87) | £83 | + 5% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 186 лв (£79) | £84 | - 6% | |
| Transportation | - 66% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 66% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 52,642 лв (£22,433) | £28,289 | - 21% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.65 лв (£1.13) | £1.43 | - 21% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 47 лв (£20) | £107 | - 81% | |
| Personal Care | - 11% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is 11% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв (£6) | £3.64 | + 76% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв (£10) | £8 | + 33% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 78 лв (£33) | £72 | - 54% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 7 лв (£2.83) | £3.91 | - 27% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв (£2.77) | £1.93 | + 43% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 8 лв (£3.41) | £4.20 | - 19% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 4.06 лв (£1.73) | £2.22 | - 22% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 3.73 лв (£1.59) | £1.90 | - 16% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 28 лв (£12) | £15 | - 22% | |
| Entertainment | - 27% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is 27% cheaper than in United Kingdom | ||||
| Bulgaria | United Kingdom | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 53 лв (£23) | £40 | - 43% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 27 лв (£12) | £23 | - 49% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 50 лв (£22) | £116 | - 81% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 118 лв (£50) | £66 | - 24% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 14 лв (£5.97) | £11 | - 48% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.17 лв (£2.20) | £3.72 | - 41% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.45 лв (£1.90) | £5.93 | - 68% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,897 лв (£808) | £427 | + 89% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.33 лв (£0.14) | £0.10 | + 36% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 72 лв (£31) | £41 | - 25% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 7 лв (£3.12) | £15 | - 79% | |
| TOTAL | - 55% | |||
These prices were last updated on March 24, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.42614
GBP
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 3,339 prices entered by 502 different people.
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 55% cheaper than in United Kingdom
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