Moving to Bulgaria from Vietnam

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Vietnam to Bulgaria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Vietnam to Bulgaria, you would find that Bulgaria is 76.3% more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,973,424,584 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly BGN152,581 in Bulgaria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bulgarian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Sofia averages 59°F vs 82°F in Hanoi, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Vietnam to Bulgaria.

What does your salary buy?

₫1,973,424,584 BGN152,581

To maintain the same standard of living in Bulgaria

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 3.2 times more

Groceries

pay 42.2% more

Transportation

pay 88.3% more

Housing

pay 39.8% more

Childcare

pay 17.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 98.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 VND = 0.0001 BGN (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Vietnam to Bulgaria, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
709 ↑ 27% vs 2015

people born in Vietnam 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Vietnam to Bulgaria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

VN
1.5
BG
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VN
17.7
BG
8.4

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Vietnam across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VN
$690
BG
$2,970
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VN
8.3
BG
49.0

Vietnam 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

VN
52.0
BG
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VN
4.3t
BG
5.3t

Vietnam performs better than Bulgaria across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VN
21.7
BG
35.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VN
18.1%
BG
37.5%

Bulgaria generally does better on infrastructure, though Vietnam leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

VN
1.6%
BG
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VN
$13,700
BG
$33,300

Bulgaria generally does better on employment & economy, though Vietnam leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VN
75.5 yrs
BG
75.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VN
14.8
BG
8.0

Bulgaria generally does better on family life, though Vietnam leads in education spending.

Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Hanoi Rain: 64.1 in/yr (1628 mm)
82° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Hanoi Sofia
Jan–Mar 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 68°/48°F (20°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) 50°/34°F (10°/1°C)
View all months
Month Hanoi Sofia
Jan 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C)
Feb 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C)
Mar 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C)
Apr 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C)
Jun 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C)
Jul 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C)
Aug 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C)
Sep 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C)
Oct 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C)
Nov 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C)
Dec 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C)

Data: Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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.

Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting Bulgaria

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter Bulgaria.
Bulgaria passport

Bulgaria passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Free
Bulgaria passport holders can enter Vietnam 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 Vietnam?

No — Bulgaria is on average about 21% more expensive than Vietnam. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Bulgaria?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BGN38,145 in Bulgaria on a ₫1,973,424,584 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bulgaria?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bulgaria has 35.2 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 Bulgaria safe for expats?

Bulgaria performs significantly better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bulgaria is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.

How is healthcare in Bulgaria compared to Vietnam?

Vietnam 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 8.3 in Vietnam. Bulgaria scores 73 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).

What's the weather like in Bulgaria compared to Vietnam?

The average high temperature in Sofia is 59°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Sofia receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in.

What language do they speak in Bulgaria?

The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.

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At a Glance

VN BG
Population 103,808,319 6,873,253
Currency Vietnamese Dong (₫) Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Languages Vietnamese Bulgarian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +84 +359
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 113 112