Cons of Living in Bulgaria:
- Language Barrier. Although English is spoken in traveling areas and significant towns, Bulgarian is the nation's official language.
- Limited Job Opportunities.
- Low Wages.
- Bureaucratic Challenges.
- Healthcare System.
- Infrastructure Issues.
- Corruption.
- Crime Rates.
Bulgaria has become a popular destination for retirement, attracting many retirees from around the world due to its low cost of living, mild climate, beautiful scenery, and rich cultural heritage.Analysts suggest the struggling economy is a key driver for the nearly 900,000 Bulgarians, according to the last census, who have emigrated in the past decade. The only population bump came in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when around 600,000 Bulgarians returned home.
What to be careful in Bulgaria : Safety
- Bulgaria experiences extreme weather. Heatwaves and wildfires occur throughout the summer period.
- Beware of pickpocketing and bag snatching in crowded places and on public transport. Take care of your belongings.
- Protests occur regularly.
- Watch out for drink spiking.
- Bombings, shootouts and gang wars can occur.
Why are houses cheap in Bulgaria
Workforce is cheap and the land is cheap in general (depending on location land prices vary from 1 euro per square meter to 1000+ euro, with average about 20–50 euro per square meter). Also it is important to know that the price of the property follows the local market trends.
Is Bulgaria cheap to buy property : Average property prices in Bulgaria
That being said, Bulgaria is a lot cheaper than many other European countries when it comes to property prices. In fact, it's nearly 80% cheaper than buying a home in the UK⁵.
Smoking, unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption and low physical activity are responsible for nearly half of all deaths in Bulgaria. The adult and adolescent smoking rates are the highest in the EU. Alcohol consumption among adolescents is also a concern. In contrast, obesity among adults is below the EU average.
Bulgaria is an Extremely Safe Country
Statistical global safety rankings generally rank Bulgaria in the top 20 percentile. Especially relevant to the low threat of violent crime. Despite pickpockets that can be around in busier areas and on public transport, the crime rate is extremely low.
Is Sofia safe at night for tourists
Safety at night:Moderate
Sofia is moderately safe for solo female travelers during nighttime. Like any big city, certain areas could be less safe, especially after dark. It has a low rate of violent crimes but pickpocketing or purse snatching incidents can happen.A number of foreign languages are spoken in Bulgaria. Russian is the most commonly spoken foreign language in the country. 35% of the country's population claim to possess a workable knowledge of this language. English is the second most common foreign language in Bulgaria.Firstly, as a foreigner, you can indeed purchase property in Bulgaria, such as apartments, houses, and commercial spaces. However, when it comes to owning land, there are restrictions. Generally, non-Bulgarian citizens are not allowed to own land directly.
A family of four estimated monthly costs are 2,196.9$ (4,037.5лв) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 622.1$ (1,143.3лв) without rent. Cost of living in Bulgaria is, on average, 46.2% lower than in United States. Rent in Bulgaria is, on average, 76.5% lower than in United States.
Why are houses in Bulgaria so cheap : But they are still the lowest among other EU countries. Also, Bulgaria is a developing country, but with a low income, level of the population. Hence the low cost of housing, the prices of which directly depend on purchasing power.
Why do people leave Bulgaria : The statistics office attributed the decrease to both low birthrates and migration. Bulgaria has the lowest per-capita income in the 27-member European Union. But since 2014, Bulgarians have been entitled to work and live anywhere in the bloc, with many leaving to seek better pay and career options.
Can EU citizens live in Bulgaria
Long-Term EU Residence Permit. EU citizens, holders of a valid passport or an ID card, have the right to remain in Bulgaria for a continuous period of up to three (3) months after entering the country. This type of permit is issued for a maximum period of five (5) years. Permanent Residence Permit.
Try to avoid the following places;
- Maria Louiza Blvd became a popular place for illegal immigrants from the East the area around Lion”s bridge and Women's market place.
- Be careful also in the shopping area of Vitosha boulevard, Graf Ignatiev boulevard, Pirotska, and the region around Halite.
- night clubs and bars.
In Bulgaria approximately 8% or 556 thousand people use German in their day-to-day communication.
Do people in Bulgaria speak German : 97.84% of Bulgarians speak Bulgarian. 12.25% speak English, 9.18% speak Russian, 4.58% speak Turkish, 3.44% speak German, 1.33% speak Greek, 1.28% speak Spanish. Bulgarian (94.65%) and Turkish (3.8%) are the most common native/mother tongues (no other language exceeds 0.30%).