Cost of living in Bulgaria compared to United States
Currency:
| Food | - 44% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Bulgaria is 44% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 22 лв ($12) | $19 | - 37% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 14 лв ($8) | $10 | - 24% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 8 лв ($4.41) | $5.95 | - 26% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 3.13 лв ($1.72) | $1.09 | + 57% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 6 лв ($3.42) | $4.92 | - 31% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 4.09 лв ($2.24) | $4.81 | - 53% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 10 лв ($5.34) | $7 | - 24% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 2.09 лв ($1.15) | $4.70 | - 76% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 1.64 лв ($0.90) | $2.55 | - 65% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 1.68 лв ($0.92) | $3.06 | - 70% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 14 лв ($8) | $16 | - 50% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 2.74 лв ($1.50) | $2.74 | - 45% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1.23 лв ($0.67) | $3.08 | - 78% | |
| 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 | 1,121 лв ($615) | $3,012 | - 80% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 687 лв ($377) | $2,224 | - 83% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 248 лв ($136) | $219 | - 38% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 763 лв ($418) | $1,967 | - 79% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 501 лв ($275) | $1,475 | - 81% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 155 лв ($85) | $147 | - 42% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 17 лв ($9) | $64 | - 85% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 840 лв ($461) | $284 | + 62% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 187 лв ($103) | $132 | - 22% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 24 лв ($13) | $13 | - 1% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 35 лв ($19) | $30 | - 37% | |
| Clothes | - 16% | |||
| Clothes in Bulgaria is 16% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 129 лв ($71) | $54 | + 30% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 57 лв ($31) | $44 | - 30% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 185 лв ($101) | $93 | + 9% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 131 лв ($72) | $120 | - 40% | |
| Transportation | - 48% | |||
| Transportation in Bulgaria is 48% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 34,814 лв ($19,097) | $27,658 | - 31% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2.66 лв ($1.46) | $1.06 | + 38% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 51 лв ($28) | $83 | - 66% | |
| Personal Care | - 51% | |||
| Personal Care in Bulgaria is 51% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 17 лв ($9) | $8 | + 15% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 25 лв ($14) | $20 | - 32% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 37 лв ($21) | $137 | - 85% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 5.31 лв ($2.91) | $8 | - 65% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 5.77 лв ($3.17) | $4.91 | - 36% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 7 лв ($3.82) | $6 | - 38% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 3.33 лв ($1.82) | $4.81 | - 62% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 4.35 лв ($2.38) | $2.19 | + 9% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 18 лв ($10) | $27 | - 64% | |
| Entertainment | - 35% | |||
| Entertainment in Bulgaria is 35% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Bulgaria | United States | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 45 лв ($25) | $55 | - 55% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 22 лв ($12) | $28 | - 57% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 62 лв ($34) | $196 | - 83% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 94 лв ($52) | $88 | - 42% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 14 лв ($8) | $14 | - 45% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 4.43 лв ($2.43) | $5.21 | - 53% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 3.50 лв ($1.92) | $6 | - 70% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 1,456 лв ($799) | $578 | + 38% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.45 лв ($0.25) | $0.20 | + 23% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 61 лв ($33) | $59 | - 43% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 6 лв ($3.40) | $10 | - 67% | |
| TOTAL | - 54% | |||
These prices were last updated on May 27, 2023.
Exchange rate:
0.549
USD
/
BGN
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 22,792 prices entered by 2,883 different people.
Cost of living in Bulgaria is 54% cheaper than in United States
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