Bulgaria has long been one of the EU's cheapest countries to live in, and 2026 brings two big changes: it adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583, and its new digital nomad visa opened to applications in December 2025. It also keeps a flat 10% income tax, the lowest in the EU.

Visas and residence

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work freely and register their address. For others, the main routes include:

  • Digital nomad visa: for remote employees of foreign companies, owners of foreign companies (more than 25%) and freelancers with at least a year's experience. Applicants must earn at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum wage a year, about €31,000 in 2026, and have health insurance and accommodation. It is valid for up to one year and can be renewed once.
  • Work permits and EU Blue Card: for people hired by a Bulgarian employer.
  • Long-term residence for pensioners: for retirees with a regular pension.
  • Business and investment routes: for founders and investors in Bulgarian companies.

The Ministry of Interior's migration directorate handles residence permits.

How much does it cost to live in Bulgaria?

Our Bulgaria data puts an average one-bedroom at about $450 a month and a three-bedroom at about $800. Sofia is the most expensive city, while Plovdiv, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo are cheaper. Groceries cost about $200 a month, and a meal at a local restaurant is very affordable. Bansko and Borovets offer cheap skiing, and the Black Sea coast is popular in summer.

How Bulgarian tax works

Personal income tax is a flat 10%, and corporate tax is also 10%, according to the National Revenue Agency. Employees pay around 13.8% in social and health contributions. Dividends are taxed at 5%. VAT is 20%.

The digital nomad visa does not make you a tax resident on its own, but spending 183 days or more in Bulgaria in a year generally does, at which point Bulgaria taxes your worldwide income at 10%. Freelancers can often deduct a standard 25% of income as expenses. Check your own position with an adviser, and use our tax calculator for estimates.

Healthcare

Residents who pay health contributions use the public NHIF system. Private clinics in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna are modern and inexpensive, and many expats use them.

Daily life

Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which Bulgarian scholars helped develop. A famously confusing custom is that nodding means "no" and shaking your head means "yes". On 1 March, people exchange martenitsi, red-and-white bracelets, and wear them until they see a stork or a blossoming tree.

English is common among younger people in Sofia, but less so elsewhere. Bureaucracy can be slow, and corruption remains a concern in some areas.

Is Bulgaria a good place to move?

Bulgaria suits remote workers, freelancers, retirees and entrepreneurs who want low costs and low taxes inside the EU. Weighing it against Georgia, its main rival for budget-conscious nomads? Read our Georgia vs Bulgaria comparison.