Cost of Living in Bulgaria
Prices for household consumption in Bulgaria were at 60 in 2025, with the EU average at 100, according to Eurostat. Housing and energy were at 40.6 and food at 92.6. Inflation was 5.7% in September 2026 on the national index, per NSI, and rents were 7.6% higher than a year earlier.
This page covers what living in Bulgaria costs, using official figures only: consumer prices and household spending from NSI, the National Statistical Institute; rents, inflation, house prices and price levels from Eurostat's harmonized data, which NSI compiles for Bulgaria; and housing costs and home ownership from the EU-SILC survey. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at a fixed rate of 1.95583 lev per euro, so lev amounts from 2025 are also shown in euros. Where no official national figure exists, we leave the item out.
Consumer spending per person in Bulgaria by category, 2025
Price levels in Bulgaria against the EU average, 2023 to 2025
Rent and housing costs
Most people in Bulgaria own their home, and few have a mortgage. In 2025, 86.1% of people lived in a home their household owned, against 68.5% in the EU, and only 1.7% had a mortgage or housing loan, against 24.8% in the EU. Only 2.2% paid rent at market price, against 20.8% in the EU. Rents are rising fast: in September 2026, actual rents for housing were 7.6% higher than a year earlier, against 2.6% in the euro area. No official national average rent in euros was available for this page, so we show these official measures instead.
Housing and energy are cheap by EU standards. Eurostat put their price level at 40.6 in 2025, with the EU at 100. In 2025, 6.9% of people lived in a household that spent more than 40% of its disposable income on housing, against an EU average of 7.6%. In Bulgaria the rate was 11.1% in 2023. Among people below the poverty threshold the rate was 27.0%, against 29.0% in the EU. Buying is getting dearer fast. House prices were 15.5% higher in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, against 4.0% in the euro area, and existing homes rose 17.6%. The data are provisional.
| House prices, 2nd quarter 2026 | Bulgaria, against a year earlier | Bulgaria, against the 1st quarter | Euro area, against a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
| All dwellings | +15.5% | +4.5% | +4.0% |
| Newly built dwellings | +12.3% | +4.6% | +4.3% |
| Existing dwellings | +17.6% | +4.3% | +3.9% |
Prices and inflation
Bulgaria is cheaper than the EU average. Eurostat put household consumption prices at 60 in 2025, with the EU at 100, up from 56.1 in 2023. Restaurants were at 55.7 and transport at 69.7, while food was closer to the EU level at 92.6.
Inflation is high. Consumer prices were 5.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier on the national index (CPI), according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI), and 5.6% on the harmonized index (HICP), against 3.8% in the euro area. Eurostat's estimate for October is 6.0% for Bulgaria and 4.0% for the euro area. Transport drives the rise, up 25.9% on the CPI, with restaurants and accommodation up 9.5% and services up 7.0%. Food prices rose 1.6%. Over 5 years, from September 2021 to September 2026, consumer prices rose 42.4%.
| Annual inflation, September 2026 | Bulgaria | Euro area |
|---|---|---|
| All items | +5.6% | +3.8% |
| Actual rents for housing | +7.6% | +2.6% |
| Electricity, gas and other fuels | +4.9% | +9.4% |
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks | +1.6% | +1.0% |
| Transport | +16.4% | +9.8% |
| Restaurants and accommodation | +9.0% | +4.1% |
What households spend
The latest household budget survey from NSI covers 2025 and reports amounts per household member. Each person spent an average of BGN 10,177 on consumer goods and services that year, which is €5,203.42 at the fixed conversion rate of 1.95583 lev per euro, or about €433.62 a month. That was 7.5% more than in 2024. Food takes the largest share, 29.3% of all spending, followed by housing and utilities at 10.7% and transport at 6.9%. Income per person was BGN 14,403, or €7,364.14, 12.0% more than in 2024, and 57.2% of it came from wages. The survey covered 3,060 households.
Transport, utilities and local taxes
Each person spent BGN 877 on transport in 2025, about €37.37 a month. Transport prices were at 69.7 against the EU average of 100 in 2025, but 16.4% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier on the HICP, against 9.8% in the euro area. For the home, each person spent BGN 1,361 on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, about €57.99 a month. Electricity, gas and other fuels were 4.9% more expensive in September 2026 than a year earlier, against 9.4% in the euro area. Public transport fares and property taxes are set by each municipality, so there is no single national figure. Income tax is a flat 10%, as our guide to hiring in Bulgaria explains.
What it means for pay and hiring
Employees in Bulgaria earned an average of €1,444 gross a month in the second quarter of 2026, 9.8% more than a year earlier, according to NSI. The minimum wage is €620.20 a month in 2026. Pay is rising faster than prices, but rents, transport and house prices are climbing quickly, and candidates who rent will look closely at the salary. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so offers are now made in euros. See average salary in Bulgaria, the Bulgaria minimum wage and our guide to hiring in Bulgaria for employer costs.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Bulgaria?
No official national average rent in euros was available for this page. Only 2.2% of people rent at market price, according to Eurostat, and the harmonized index shows rents 7.6% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier.
How much does a person spend a month in Bulgaria?
About €433.62 a month on consumer goods and services in 2025, the latest NSI survey, or BGN 10,177 a year converted at the fixed rate. Food took 29.3% of all spending.
Is Bulgaria cheaper than the rest of the EU?
Yes. Eurostat put Bulgarian household consumption prices at 60 in 2025, with the EU at 100. Housing and energy (40.6) and restaurants (55.7) were well below the EU level, and food was at 92.6.
What is the inflation rate in Bulgaria?
5.7% in September 2026 on the national CPI and 5.6% on the harmonized HICP, according to NSI. Eurostat estimates 6.0% for October on the HICP. Transport was up 25.9% on the CPI in September.
Does Bulgaria use the euro?
Yes. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, at a fixed and irrevocable rate of 1.95583 lev per euro, under Council Decision (EU) 2025/1407.
Sources
- NSI, Inflation and Consumer Price Indices, September 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- NSI, Household income, expenditure and consumption, 2025. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, HICP annual rates of change (prc_hicp_minr). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, House price index (prc_hpi_q). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Price level indices (prc_ppp_ind_1). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Housing cost overburden rate (ilc_lvho07a). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Population by tenure status (ilc_lvho02). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- European Commission, Bulgaria adopts euro as of 1 January 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- NSI, Employees and average wage, 2nd quarter 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- NRA, Minimum wage from 1 Jan 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
