Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to United States
Currency:
| Food | - 45% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 45% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 17 лв ($10) | $21 | - 55% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 16 лв ($9) | $12 | - 22% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 8 лв ($4.41) | $5.85 | - 25% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.40 лв ($1.98) | $1.10 | + 80% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 8 лв ($4.45) | $5.48 | - 19% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.17 лв ($2.43) | $4.87 | - 50% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв ($6) | $7 | - 18% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.86 лв ($1.67) | $4.31 | - 61% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 2.13 лв ($1.24) | $2.34 | - 47% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2.33 лв ($1.36) | $3.49 | - 61% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 21 лв ($12) | $18 | - 32% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 3.12 лв ($1.82) | $2.93 | - 38% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.05 лв ($0.61) | $3.10 | - 80% | |
| Housing | - 73% | |||
| Housing in Bulgaria is 73% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,292 лв ($754) | $3,174 | - 76% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 872 лв ($509) | $2,444 | - 79% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 218 лв ($127) | $229 | - 45% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 786 лв ($459) | $2,236 | - 79% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 705 лв ($411) | $1,662 | - 75% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 174 лв ($102) | $168 | - 39% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв ($10) | $62 | - 84% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 607 лв ($354) | $248 | + 43% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 181 лв ($105) | $151 | - 30% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 17 лв ($10) | $15 | - 31% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 25 лв ($15) | $35 | - 58% | |
| Clothes | + 4% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 4% more expensive than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 118 лв ($69) | $58 | + 18% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 89 лв ($52) | $51 | + 2% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 204 лв ($119) | $105 | + 13% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 186 лв ($109) | $141 | - 23% | |
| Transportation | - 44% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 44% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 52,642 лв ($30,706) | $30,965 | - 1% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.65 лв ($1.55) | $0.94 | + 64% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 47 лв ($27) | $86 | - 68% | |
| Personal Care | - 49% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is 49% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 15 лв ($9) | $9 | - 2% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24 лв ($14) | $24 | - 43% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 78 лв ($45) | $169 | - 73% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 7 лв ($3.88) | $9 | - 58% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6 лв ($3.79) | $5.28 | - 28% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 8 лв ($4.66) | $7 | - 32% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 4.06 лв ($2.37) | $5.11 | - 54% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 3.73 лв ($2.17) | $2.41 | - 10% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 28 лв ($16) | $30 | - 46% | |
| Entertainment | - 43% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is 43% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 53 лв ($31) | $60 | - 49% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 27 лв ($16) | $30 | - 48% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 50 лв ($29) | $216 | - 86% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 118 лв ($69) | $104 | - 34% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 14 лв ($8) | $15 | - 44% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 5.17 лв ($3.01) | $5.89 | - 49% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 4.56 лв ($2.66) | $8 | - 65% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,897 лв ($1,107) | $489 | + 126% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.33 лв ($0.19) | $0.55 | - 65% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 72 лв ($42) | $72 | - 42% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 7 лв ($4.32) | $11 | - 62% | |
| TOTAL | - 52% | |||
These prices were last updated on April 29, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.583
USD
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 16,402 prices entered by 1,957 different people.
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 52% cheaper than in United States
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