Moving to Bulgaria from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Bulgaria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Bulgaria, you would find that Bulgaria is 44.5% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly BGN64,919 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 United States and Bulgaria.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BGN64,919
To maintain the same standard of living in Bulgaria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 43.8% less
Groceries
pay 36.1% less
Transportation
pay 14.2% less
Housing
pay 72.5% less
Childcare
pay 72.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.5% 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 Bulgaria cost about 55% less than cities in United States.
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 United States to Bulgaria.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bulgaria compared to United States.
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 performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.
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 United States 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
United States generally does better on environment, though Bulgaria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
United States 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United States 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
United States performs better than Bulgaria across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States?
On average Bulgaria is about 49% less expensive than United States, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Bulgaria?
Budget about BGN16,230 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?
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 United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bulgaria is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 86% of people in Bulgaria feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to United States?
Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index. There are 49.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Bulgaria, compared to 36.1 in United States. Bulgaria scores 73 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Bulgaria compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Sofia is 59°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Sofia receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Bulgaria?
The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In United States, the official language is English.
