Moving to Russia from Bulgaria
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Bulgaria to Russia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Bulgaria to Russia, you would find that Russia is 5.7% cheaper than Bulgaria overall. A BGN128,505 salary in Bulgaria would need to be roughly RUB5,800,201 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 59°F in Sofia, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Bulgaria to Russia.
What does your salary buy?
BGN128,505 → RUB5,800,201
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 24.7% less
Groceries
pay 15.8% less
Transportation
pay 22.7% less
Housing
pay 1.4% more
Childcare
pay 0.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Russia cost about 13% more than cities in Bulgaria.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Russia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Bulgaria to Russia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
24.5,836
Bulgaria
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bulgaria to Russia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Bulgaria generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bulgaria generally does better on environment, though Russia leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Russia generally does better on infrastructure, though Bulgaria leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Bulgaria leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Bulgaria generally does better on family life, though Russia leads in infant mortality.
Data: National Revenue Agency, Bulgaria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sofia | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sofia | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bulgaria and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.
Bulgaria passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Russia passport holder visiting Bulgaria
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Russia than Bulgaria?
Costs in Russia and Bulgaria are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RUB1,450,050 in Russia on a BGN128,505 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Russia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 24.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Russia safe for expats?
Bulgaria generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Bulgaria. About 90% of people in Russia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Bulgaria?
Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in health coverage index. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 49.0 in Bulgaria. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bulgaria: 73).
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Bulgaria?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 59°F in Sofia. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Sofia gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Bulgaria, the official language is Bulgarian.
