Just imagine living in another European city with this budget. The Ups and Downs of Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fitting in as an Expat Living in Bulgaria, Day to Day Life While Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Getting Around the City and Finding Housing, The Cultural Differences of Living in Bulgaria. There are also a number of bus lines you can take to get to most regions. February 28, 2023 Hunter Wallace Anti-Racism, Anti-White, Crime, Missouri, Race Realism, Race Relations 0. I decided to come back in February of 2018 and have been living here since making it about two and a half years now. You need to speak the language 2. She spends her time running travel websites: Eternal Arrival, Sofia Adventures, and California Crossroads and co-hosting a weekly podcast about anxiety, Im Anxious About. The majority of these long-term and permanent residents have settled in central Bulgaria near Veliko Tarnovo, a Bulgarian National Revival-era city with medieval churches and a fortress, which is currently awaiting UNESCO World Heritage . Private international schools like the Ango-Americal School of Sofia offer a range of extracurricular activities, student clubs, and events for students to attend. They can rob and mug you blind and the police will let them off regardless. From visas to housing to the cost of a kebab this helpful guide should give you a glimpse into expat life in Bulgaria. Its the perfect place to explore what nature has to offer and connect with our planet. Its definitely a big difference from where Im from I spent 17 years living in California (San Francisco to be precise) and 9 in New York City but for now, its home! Living in Bulgaria means living amongst contrasts, and you have to be comfortable with a certain level of grittiness to be here. I hate to be the bearer of bad news however my children were withdrawn from this small private school (one and only private school in Bourgas and very near to Hotel Bulgaria which I know a lot of this is due to my lack of learning the language, but I also know in my gut that Sofia is a temporary stopover when it comes to my life, and Bulgarian wont be useful to me when I leave the city in a year or two. For instance, students are mostly located in Student Town (Studentski Grad) or the central parts of the city, while retirees and families would probably prefer a more relaxing and calm place like Pancharevo, Bistritsa, or Boyana. The downside is that Varna is one of the more expensive cities in the country, however, it is still a lot cheaper than other European destinations. In Bulgaria, you should expect to pay personal income tax and homeowners tax, as well as vehicle tax and a fee for rubbish collection. 12- Bulgarian people was described as outrageously beautiful. Popovo the place where anyone can feel at home, 7. 14- There is still poverty in Bulgaria. Outside, expats are more widely dispersed than in many countries, from Varna, on the Black Sea, to ski resort Bansko. Dobrich is popular for its relatively balanced weather and amazing spring and autumn seasons. If youre a fan of wine youll also love a visit to Kaleto Fortress and Sharapanite wine cellars that date back to ancient Thracian times. The city is vibrant and thrilling, with a range of different restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment venues, concert halls and theatres. Naturally enough a low cost of living is a massive draw. While Bulgaria is developing slowly after rising up from its darker days of communism, the country still has a way to go in terms of being progressive. Its located on the banks of the Maritsa river in the Thrace region, southeast of Sofia. Punishment includes imprisonment from 1 to 4 years, a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 leva . You can see jars for sale on the sides of roads and in any of the villages. Dealing with those could literally shorten your life span! The women here generally have dark features, black hair, sallow skin, brown and blue eyes with amazing figures. DSK Expressbank and Postbank were both recommended as Bulgarian banks for foreigners. Haskovo is an extremely safe town to live in and you dont need to worry that youll be mugged, robbed, pickpocketed, or that your house will be broken into. I was about to leave Sofia and try somewhere else in Europe, as I was so frustrated by the process of moving here, when I met the man who would later be my husband! If youre considering retiring to Bulgaria, you really should start language lessons. You dont have to worry if you fall ill in Sofia the city has great hospitals and medical clinics to keep your health in check. Its a city of central location and is extremely close to Varna and Balchik. You wont get far without at least elementary Bulgarian and you should familiarise yourself with the alphabet. Were Derek and Mike 2 Americans living in Europe who love to travel the world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Just be careful if youre taking a walk to the bar with food in your hands. There are certainly those expats who have made a very positive life change by moving to Bulgaria. The small town is a brilliant place to live in all year long. Dobrich your first step to a magnificent experience, 8. As in any other EU country, in Bulgaria, you will need EHIC to access public healthcare as a Bulgarian resident. 4-Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. and that you can unsubscribe any time. Regards, Hi Mark, you can find detailed information on various locations in Bulgaria in our location guides here: https://expatra.com/guides/bulgaria/. Its very cheap, super reliable and very widespread. Save money on international transfers with Wise (formerly TransferWise). Bulgaria operates a flat tax system whereby personal and corporate tax rates are 10% across the board. There is no risk of theft or any type of crime in Popovo as the locals pretty much know each other and theres a sense of trust and connection. Its bizarre to see someone repeatedly shaking their head but actually agreeing with you, and it can definitely cause some confusion with locals. Come April, we need to come up with a plan as to who will be moving (me to join him in Bulgaria or him moving back to California). Many of the expat city-dwellers are workers, and the city boasts a thriving start-up scene. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have not worked in Bulgaria, you should claim your UK State Pension by contacting theInternational Pension Centre. They tend to be the ones who have a solid income in place, and who are willing to learn the local language and completely adapt. Bulgaria has been chosen by a number of expatswho wanted to get home or Internet-based businesses off the ground for the specific reason that their tax burden would be low. For a family of four, 3,200 lv (1,404/$1,941) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget. The environment is extremely laid back and youll notice that everyone speaks English. Looking forward to your inputs ! Plovdiv the new go-to for digital nomads and expats, 4. From what I can tell, Im mostly amongst other locals I never hear English spoken in my neck of the woods. A basic plan from Uniqa for a couple under 70 years old will cost 330 BGN (145) a year. The scenery is just beautiful. Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe, bordering Romania to the south, North Macedonia and Serbia to the east, Turkey and Greece to the north, and the Black Sea to the west. There are a lot of natural honey producers here. The other reason for the decisions these people have made is the cost of living in Bulgaria. Read more in Expatras guide to international removals. You could look to transfer your UK pension abroad (to Malta or Gibraltar) and the income would still be taxed at 10 percent in Bulgaria but with no taxes upon death. In Bulgaria they can afford a pretty affluent life. So, make sure you are willing to live in that kind of environment if you are considering a rustic existence in Bulgaria, any way you wont be alone there are many expats that choose those regions and enjoy the positive side of a simpler life, there are regions close to Veliko Tarnovo, Dobrich, and Elhovo just to mention a few, with relatively big expats communities. Its safe to say that its the busiest city in the country and a multicultural hub of professionals and students from all over the world. Its located near the geographic centre of the country and is the midpoint between Varna and Sofia. Im in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend who works in Sofia, Bulgaria. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A. To benefit from the cost of living your income should be above the Bulgarian average Even then, you may be asked for proof of income being paid into the bank for up to six months. The city didnt resonate with me immediately, but after a few weeks of staying in Sofia, I slowly began to fall in love with all that it had to offer. The freelancer visa is nearly impossible to get, not least because it starts with speaking B1-level Bulgarian (which is hard to do unless you already live here.). Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. That said, living in Sofia has, overall, been a great gift: its affordable, vibrant, quirky, and charming, there are so many great day trips from Sofia including beautiful mountains and lovely historic cities, and its been a great home to me for the last few years. Enjoy the therapeutic mineral springs in Haskovo and the picturesque Kenana a magical oak forest that offers a large park, restaurants, tennis grounds, and recreational houses. 10- We can set aside a paragraph about local wine and Rakia (kind of Brandy), the climate allows grow grapes for homemade wine preparation, and fruits especially plums and apricots for Rakia, many people have their own small distillery at home, but lately, the government is trying to cut down moonshine production, not sure it is working anyway. Recently, the city has become an attraction for digital nomads thanks to its vast range of suitable cafes and coworking spaces. The language barrier dealing with anything bureaucratic or institutional is frustrating, and the infrastructure is a little dated and needs a lot of love. And in my opinion is absolutely correct. Your stay in Bulgaria as an expat could be extremely different based on where you choose to live. Thankyou. On the other hand, when it comes to Bulgarian public schools, they are completely free to attend and textbooks are provided for free for students in certain grades. You can either join Facebook groups or look on Airbnb. Bulgarian state-run schools often operate with outdated equipment and old material bases. Well done Suzanne. They are the success story of post communism leading a free-loading and pay-for-nothing lives, as well as the beneficiaries of state benefits and hand-outs. You also need to check the validity of your driver license in Bulgaria before start driving, paying bribes to the police is a practice that slowly disappearing (this is my own experience since I have got few tickets on the road, but never been asked for money). Life as an expat in Popovo is an extremely affordable experience and wont burn a hole in your pocket in any way. Bulgaria is becoming ever more popular with expats for whom the cheaper cost of living and a good healthy lifestyle are a priority. Fruit and vegetables are for sale everywhere and are the most delicious. My business partner and I had to go to seven banks to even find one that would open a business bank account for a foreigner and the only one that actually would open bank accounts for us had a manger who refused to give us information at first, likely because he thought two women couldnt possibly be opening a business. Haskovo one of Bulgarias oldest yet most pleasant places to live in, 9. The biggest attraction, the citys symbol, and one of the countrys most beloved monuments is the Tsarevets Fortress. The entire carefully crafted image of Eastern-Europe as a backwards, drab, gray, muddy, dangerous, poor little cousin of Western Europe isn't entirely true. There is also a tax-free allowance of 4,050 (3,460) per year. Spend any time checking forums and youll find fairly even numbers of British expats extolling Bulgarias virtues or hauling it over the coals. Living in Bulgaria! You must put a minimum amount into the account for it to be opened, which differs depending on the area. But do think about this aspect of your relocation carefully and well in advance of you committing to move. They attract a very good salary which they can live on here exceptionally well, especially if they work remotely for a company from abroad. Em Shadows. For a single person, a good monthly budget would be 750 lv (327/$453). If you don't want to be surprised by this different way of socially behaving, it might be best to read up on Bulgarian culture. Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! Expats often choose Haskovo as a popular Bulgarian place to live in as it offers the comfort and cosiness of the small town but its also extremely close to Plovdiv, where you can quickly travel to. The Sea Garden is a destination where both locals and expats love to spend their days, surrounded by nature and calm vibes. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. With its relatively mild climate, Bulgaria is pleasant all year round. We live by a beautiful park thats often filled with litter. If youre moving to Bulgaria, currently living in Sofia or just curious about living abroad, leave you questions for Allison below in the comments. So, what are the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria? My husband works for an American company here in Sofia, helping their Portuguese team with customer support. Living in Bulgaria - Pros & Cons Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria 1. a) Muslims - between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 19th century, Bulgaria was under rule of the Ottoman Empire (Islamic State) and she used the enslaved peoples (Bulgarians, Serbs, Greeks, Albanians, etc.) Especially during summer, Varna is a top destination, even for Bulgarians. The cost of living will surprise you. A monthly budget of 1,200 lv ($722/530) for a family or two will offer a perfect way of living, rent excluded. There are a few ways to find a long-term apartment rental in Bulgaria. A lot of things go into a custody decision and corresponding parenting plan, writes Dr. Jann Blackstone. Kiss were supposed to play their final show in 2021, but pandemic delays to the lengthy final . 5. Nearby destinations to visit for a calm and relaxing experience include Ravadinovo and its castle, Nessebar, Sozopol, and more. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. Follow us on on Twitter. Im planning to move to Bansko in about 3 years. "I hate living in California because I have to drive everywhere and then look for parking and also pay for it. Emilie is a public relations expert based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Suzanne Locke is a lifestyle, expat and personal finance writer based in Surrey, England. The expat city-dwellers are workers, and it can definitely cause some confusion with locals fairly numbers. Where both locals and expats love to travel the world will need EHIC to access public healthcare as Bulgarian... Continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it environment is close... 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