Moving to Bulgaria from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Bulgaria, and you’d need to navigate life in Bulgarian.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bulgaria compared to Sao Tome and Principe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
BG
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
BG
8.4

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
BG
$2,970
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
BG
49.0

Sao Tome and Principe 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

ST
85.0
BG
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
BG
5.3t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Bulgaria leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ST
2.0
BG
35.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
BG
37.5%

Bulgaria generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
BG
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
BG
$33,300

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ST
67.1 yrs
BG
75.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
BG
8.0

Bulgaria generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Bulgaria

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Bulgaria.
Bulgaria passport

Bulgaria passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Bulgaria passport holders can enter Sao Tome and Principe without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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 Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bulgaria is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to Sao Tome and Principe?

Sao Tome and Principe 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 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Bulgaria scores 73 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Bulgaria?

The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST BG
Population 217,164 6,873,253
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Languages Portuguese Bulgarian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +359
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112