Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat HICP 2023
🇧🇬 Cost of living in Bulgaria
Bulgaria undercuts most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see the categories driving that gap and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost index (EU-27=100)
- 55
- Rent index
- 45
- Median net income
- €6,200
- Cost-adjusted income
- €11,273
Bulgaria sits at 55 on the 0-200 scale shown above.
Key takeaways
- Overall cost of living is 45% below the EU-27 average (index 55, EU-27 = 100).
- Most expensive category: groceries at index 70.
- Cheapest category: rent & housing at index 45.
- A typical income of €6,200 is worth about €11,273 in EU-average purchasing power.
Cost by category in Bulgaria
Bulgaria - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
In Bulgaria, groceries is the most expensive category and rent & housing the least.
What the Bulgaria cost-of-living data shows
Bulgaria's overall consumer price level is 45% below the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Groceries stand out as the priciest category in Bulgaria, at index 70, ahead of rent & housing at index 45 - a food basket costs proportionally more here than rent, transport or healthcare do.
That price gap works strongly in Bulgaria's favor: prices run far below the EU average, so the headline income of €6,200 goes much further than the sticker figure suggests, worth roughly €11,273 in EU-27-average purchasing power.
Countries with a similar cost of living
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulgaria expensive to live in?▼
Bulgaria's overall cost of living is 45% below the EU-27 average (index 55). Groceries is the priciest category and rent & housing the cheapest.
What does it cost to rent in Bulgaria?▼
Bulgaria's rent and housing price index is 45, below the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Bulgaria?▼
That price gap works strongly in Bulgaria's favor: prices run far below the EU average, so the headline income of €6,200 goes much further than the sticker figure suggests, worth roughly €11,273 in EU-27-average purchasing power.
Source: Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Price-level indices, EU-27 = 100, 2023. Income: Eurostat/OECD median equivalised net income.
Important: these figures are official Eurostat averages for general information and comparison, they are not personal financial advice. Your own cost of living depends on your city, housing and lifestyle, so treat this as a starting point and check current local prices before making any relocation or budget decision.
Read our methodology - how these indices are sourced and computed.