Moving to Bulgaria from Czech Republic

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Czech Republic to Bulgaria, you would find that Bulgaria is 24.1% cheaper than Czech Republic overall. A CZK1,593,660 salary in Czech Republic would need to be roughly BGN96,687 in Bulgaria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bulgarian.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

What does your salary buy?

CZK1,593,660 BGN96,687

To maintain the same standard of living in Bulgaria

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 14.8% less

Groceries

pay 7.7% less

Transportation

pay 17.1% less

Housing

pay 52.3% less

Childcare

pay 16.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 35.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CZK = 0.0806 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.

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 Bulgaria cost about 18% less than cities in Czech Republic.

Czech Republic

Liberec 49%
Brno 49%
Plzen 45%

Bulgaria

Sofia 44%
Ruse 36%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Bulgaria

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?

What the data shows about people moving from Czech Republic to Bulgaria.

Living there in 2020
1,533 ↑ 48% vs 2015

people born in Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CZ
0.8
BG
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CZ
5.2
BG
8.4

Czech Republic performs better than Bulgaria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CZ
$4,674
BG
$2,970
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CZ
42.5
BG
49.0

Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Czech Republic leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CZ
33.0
BG
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CZ
7.1t
BG
5.3t

Czech Republic generally does better on environment, though Bulgaria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CZ
38.4
BG
35.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CZ
20.5%
BG
37.5%

Czech Republic performs better than Bulgaria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CZ
2.6%
BG
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CZ
$47,700
BG
$33,300

Czech Republic generally does better on employment & economy, though Bulgaria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CZ
79.7 yrs
BG
75.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CZ
2.4
BG
8.0

Czech Republic performs better than Bulgaria across all family life metrics.

Data: Financial Administration of the Czech Republic, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Prague Rain: 17.1 in/yr (435 mm)
57° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Sofia Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
59° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Prague Sofia
Jan–Mar 42°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/48°F (19°/9°C) 68°/48°F (20°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/2°C) 50°/34°F (10°/1°C)
View all months
Month Prague Sofia
Jan 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.4°C) 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.4°/-1.8°C) 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C)
Mar 48°/35°F (9.1°/1.5°C) 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C)
Apr 59°/41°F (15.1°/5.1°C) 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.3°/9.7°C) 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C)
Jun 73°/55°F (22.8°/12.7°C) 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C)
Jul 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.5°C) 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C)
Aug 77°/58°F (25.1°/14.2°C) 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.5°C) 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C)
Oct 58°/44°F (14.2°/6.4°C) 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.2°/2.1°C) 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C)
Dec 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.1°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C)

Data: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Czech Republic 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.

Czech Republic passport

Czech Republic passport holder visiting Bulgaria

Visa Free
Czech Republic passport holders can enter Bulgaria without a visa.
Bulgaria passport

Bulgaria passport holder visiting Czech Republic

Visa Free
Bulgaria passport holders can enter Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic?

On average Bulgaria is about 25% less expensive than Czech Republic, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Bulgaria?

Budget about BGN24,172 for 3 months in Bulgaria (based on a CZK1,593,660 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?

Czech Republic performs better than Bulgaria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bulgaria is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Czech Republic.

How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to Czech Republic?

Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Czech Republic leads in health coverage index. There are 49.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Bulgaria, compared to 42.5 in Czech Republic. Bulgaria scores 73 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Czech Republic: 84).

What's the weather like in Bulgaria compared to Czech Republic?

The average high temperature in Sofia is 59°F, compared to 57°F in Prague. Sofia receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Prague gets 17.1 in.

What language do they speak in Bulgaria?

The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In Czech Republic, the official languages are Czech and Slovak.

Share this

At a Glance

CZ BG
Population 10,705,384 6,873,253
Currency Czech Republic Koruna (CZK) Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Languages Czech, Slovak Bulgarian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +420 +359
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112