Thinking about moving to Bulgaria? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Bulgaria stands out for an affordable cost of living, a lighter tax burden and an easier housing market, while it is worth weighing lower safety scores, a less open social climate and a weaker healthcare score.
Bulgaria at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living40/100
Cost of living here sits well below the EU average, one of the more affordable places to live. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €900 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €450 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English50/100
English works in tourist and business settings, but daily life, services and paperwork usually need the local language.
Safety68/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 68/100 means reasonably safe, with the usual petty crime in busy areas. It is worth checking neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
Healthcare58/100
Scored 58/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Public healthcare covers the basics but can mean waiting lists; private insurance is common among expats.
ClimateMild
A mild, temperate climate without big extremes. Typical daytime highs: winter around 4°C, spring 16°C, summer 28°C, autumn 16°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~10 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 10 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Bulgaria's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes10% flat
Personal income tax: Flat 10%. As a freelancer: Flat 10% with a 25% notional expense deduction (effective ~7.5% for freelancers). Company owners: CIT 10%, dividends 5%. Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Bulgaria stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Bulgaria scores best for:
- An affordable cost of living.
- A lighter tax burden.
- An easier housing market.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Bulgaria, keep an eye on:
- Lower safety scores.
- A less open social climate.
- A weaker healthcare score.
Is Bulgaria right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Bulgaria actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Bulgaria lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.