Moving to Bulgaria from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Bulgaria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Bulgaria, you would find that Bulgaria is 43.5% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly BGN82,591 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 Illinois and Bulgaria.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BGN82,591
To maintain the same standard of living in Bulgaria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 39.6% less
Groceries
pay 29.5% less
Transportation
pay 12.8% less
Housing
pay 70.2% less
Childcare
pay 74.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.6% 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 Bulgaria cost about 35% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Illinois to Bulgaria.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bulgaria compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Bulgaria performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Bulgaria across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Bulgaria leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Illinois performs better than Bulgaria across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Bulgaria
Visa Free
Bulgaria passport holder visiting United States
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 Bulgaria than Illinois?
On average Bulgaria is about 36% less expensive than Illinois, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Bulgaria?
Budget about BGN20,648 for 3 months in Bulgaria (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Bulgaria?
From major Bulgaria cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Bulgaria are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to Illinois?
Bulgaria performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Bulgaria compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Sofia is 59°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Sofia receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Bulgaria?
The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In Illinois, the official language is English.
