Moving to Bulgaria from Albania

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Albania to Bulgaria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Albania to Bulgaria, you would find that Bulgaria is 1.6% more expensive than Albania overall. A ALL6,149,207 salary in Albania would need to be roughly BGN113,710 in Bulgaria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bulgarian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Albania and Bulgaria.

What does your salary buy?

ALL6,149,207 BGN113,710

To maintain the same standard of living in Bulgaria

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 4.3% less

Groceries

pay 0.9% more

Transportation

pay 20.9% less

Housing

pay 13.8% less

Childcare

pay 88.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 16.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ALL = 0.0209 BGN (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Albania to Bulgaria.

Living there in 2020
1,351 ↑ 36% vs 2015

people born in Albania live in Bulgaria · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bulgaria?

Top countries of origin for Bulgaria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bulgaria compared to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AL
1.6
BG
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AL
10.8
BG
8.4

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Albania across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AL
$1,464
BG
$2,970
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AL
18.8
BG
49.0

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bulgaria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AL
59.0
BG
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AL
1.8t
BG
5.3t

Albania performs better than Bulgaria across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AL
20.6
BG
35.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AL
4.8%
BG
37.5%

Albania generally does better on infrastructure, though Bulgaria leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AL
11.6%
BG
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AL
$18,100
BG
$33,300

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Albania across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AL
79.5 yrs
BG
75.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AL
10.8
BG
8.0

Albania generally does better on family life, though Bulgaria leads in infant mortality.

Data: Albanian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Albania and Bulgaria. To live, work, or study long-term in Bulgaria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bulgaria's immigration authority.

Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting Bulgaria

Visa Free
Albania passport holders can enter Bulgaria without a visa.
Bulgaria passport

Bulgaria passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
Bulgaria passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Bulgaria than Albania?

On average Bulgaria is about 11% less expensive than Albania, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Bulgaria?

Budget about BGN28,428 for 3 months in Bulgaria (based on a ALL6,149,207 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Bulgaria?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bulgaria: 35.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bulgaria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Bulgaria safe for expats?

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Albania across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bulgaria is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Albania.

How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to Albania?

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bulgaria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 49.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Bulgaria, compared to 18.8 in Albania. Bulgaria scores 73 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Albania: 64).

What language do they speak in Bulgaria?

The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In Albania, the official language is Albanian.

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At a Glance

AL BG
Population 3,095,344 6,873,253
Currency Albanian Lek (ALL) Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Languages Albanian Bulgarian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +355 +359
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112