Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to United States
Currency:
| Food | - 56% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 56% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 19 лв ($10) | $17 | - 41% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 10 лв ($5.19) | $9 | - 43% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 5.52 лв ($2.94) | $5.06 | - 42% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 2.18 лв ($1.16) | $0.99 | + 17% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 3.43 лв ($1.83) | $3.33 | - 45% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 3.12 лв ($1.66) | $4.44 | - 63% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 7 лв ($3.72) | $7 | - 46% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.55 лв ($1.36) | $3.92 | - 65% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 1.02 лв ($0.54) | $1.94 | - 72% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 1.22 лв ($0.65) | $3.35 | - 81% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 10 лв ($5.49) | $16 | - 65% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.51 лв ($1.33) | $2.26 | - 41% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.02 лв ($0.54) | $2.45 | - 78% | |
| Housing | - 76% | |||
| Housing in Bulgaria is 76% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,041 лв ($554) | $2,514 | - 78% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 703 лв ($374) | $1,957 | - 81% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 232 лв ($123) | $205 | - 40% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 706 лв ($376) | $1,777 | - 79% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 476 лв ($253) | $1,349 | - 81% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 114 лв ($61) | $139 | - 56% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв ($9) | $57 | - 84% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 641 лв ($341) | $303 | + 13% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 163 лв ($87) | $134 | - 35% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 12 лв ($6) | $12 | - 47% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 16 лв ($9) | $26 | - 67% | |
| Clothes | - 30% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 30% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 104 лв ($55) | $51 | + 8% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 51 лв ($27) | $46 | - 41% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 130 лв ($69) | $92 | - 25% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 139 лв ($74) | $120 | - 38% | |
| Transportation | - 42% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 42% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 43,724 лв ($23,250) | $25,233 | - 8% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.49 лв ($1.32) | $1.06 | + 25% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 51 лв ($27) | $77 | - 65% | |
| Personal Care | - 67% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is 67% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 12 лв ($6) | $7 | - 17% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 10 лв ($5.35) | $19 | - 72% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 24 лв ($13) | $125 | - 90% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 8 лв ($4.28) | $7 | - 43% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 4.69 лв ($2.49) | $4.17 | - 40% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 4.42 лв ($2.35) | $5.50 | - 57% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 2.27 лв ($1.20) | $4.18 | - 71% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 3.39 лв ($1.80) | $2.05 | - 12% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 11 лв ($5.88) | $25 | - 77% | |
| Entertainment | - 50% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is 50% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 40 лв ($21) | $49 | - 56% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 23 лв ($12) | $27 | - 54% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 40 лв ($21) | $192 | - 89% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 68 лв ($36) | $83 | - 56% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 9 лв ($4.69) | $13 | - 63% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 2.96 лв ($1.57) | $5.17 | - 70% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 3.51 лв ($1.87) | $6 | - 70% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,135 лв ($603) | $499 | + 21% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.21 лв ($0.11) | $0.17 | - 34% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 34 лв ($18) | $52 | - 65% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 5.83 лв ($3.10) | $9 | - 66% | |
| TOTAL | - 59% | |||
These prices were last updated on May 17, 2022.
Exchange rate:
0.532
USD
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 16,487 prices entered by 2,656 different people.
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 59% cheaper than in United States
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