They struggle to make the ends meet on their pensions in Britain so they choose to move to a more favourable environment in terms of cost. If youre considering retiring to Bulgaria, you really should start language lessons. I decided to come back in February of 2018 and have been living here since making it about two and a half years now. In Bulgaria they can afford a pretty affluent life. But, note that you may need to give a deposit. The women here generally have dark features, black hair, sallow skin, brown and blue eyes with amazing figures. Its also worth noting that there is an evident segmentation of elite and non-elite schools in the state-run school system, which can create certain communication problems with peers from other schools. Haskovo one of Bulgarias oldest yet most pleasant places to live in, 9. The existing rules, agreements, and arrangements between Bulgaria and the UK changed after Brexit. I know a lot of this is due to my lack of learning the language, but I also know in my gut that Sofia is a temporary stopover when it comes to my life, and Bulgarian wont be useful to me when I leave the city in a year or two. Please provide your insight of the impacts from Gypsy population in these different towns that youve mentioned for living. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask the neighbours. Bulgarian is a difficult language, made more difficult by the fact that it uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Burgas a cultural hub on the coast of the Black Sea, 6. Its great that I can walk around Sofia wearing the clothing I feel comfortable in and not have to worry so much about men harassing me on the streets. Bulgaria definitely has several things that give you culture shock. However, if you are employed locally and earn an average salary for the country, you will have to adjust your lifestyle accordingly. Refurbishments are to be expected if you buy, but a common warning on forums is to get local advice and recommendations when it comes to builders and never to pay everything upfront. There are two lakes surrounding Dobrich, offering a delightful opportunity to spend evenings outside. Im sure that women of color struggle a bit more with harassment, but I cant make any generalizations to their experience, as I only know what friends have told me about living or traveling in the region. But if you would like to appreciate the beautiful landscape and have enough time, you can take the slow train service, you can pass from the mountains to the Black Sea coastline in a couple hours and in between, you will find beautiful valleys. It will require more work to settle down than, say, Spain, but that work could pay off with a whole new lifestyle. Guys often wear skinny jeans and black Armani T-shirts, while girls go for equally tight pants and skirts with some sort of a designer tank top, be it Mango, Trussardi or Motivi. I am from Sydney, Australia and I am looking at moving to Europe in the next 12 months. Plovdivs Old Town is bound to steal your heart at a first glance. Other Black Sea resorts include Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, St Constantine and Helena. If youre wondering about where you want to spend your time as an expat retiree, Bulgaria is certainly among the top choices. You can comfortably walk around the towns streets at 3 AM knowing that youre completely safe. For a family of four, 3,200 lv (1,404/$1,941) excluding rent is a fair monthly budget. Its what I was doing before I came to Bulgaria, but now, I have more focus and purpose being based in one place. Having said all of the above, however, it is possible to contrast each and every positive with a negativeand it seems it may well be down to a matter of personal opinion as to whether Bulgaria is a good place to live or not! Unsurprisingly, well start from Sofia Bulgarias capital. Its positioned on a high hill over the Yantra River and is home to an old town and a modern city centre. I was about to leave Sofia and try somewhere else in Europe, as I was so frustrated by the process of moving here, when I met the man who would later be my husband! The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, 2. Recently, the city port has been renovated and improved, with a ton of new restaurants, nightclubs, and bars to visit. Spend any time checking forums and youll find fairly even numbers of British expats extolling Bulgarias virtues or hauling it over the coals. I hate to be the bearer of bad news however my children were withdrawn from this small private school (one and only private school in Bourgas and very near to Hotel Bulgaria which Popovo the place where anyone can feel at home, 7. Just be careful if youre taking a walk to the bar with food in your hands. Being aware of them before you relocate can make a huge difference to your overall experience. I have a few local friends, but mostly Ive stuck to the expat community, as my husband works with mostly Portuguese people and my business partner here is American. You can draw the money out once the paperwork is done, we were informed. Some of them would effortlessly win modeling competitions. Theres a youthfulness to the city that I find extremely inspiring, with young people constantly opening new businesses. and that you can unsubscribe any time. Authentic culture 5. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. If youre looking for a quieter pace of life, fresh produce and a beautiful beach-to-mountain backdrop at a lower cost than France or Switzerland, Bulgaria could be the ideal country for you. Nearby destinations to visit for a calm and relaxing experience include Ravadinovo and its castle, Nessebar, Sozopol, and more. Ad to these old cars and you can imagine yourself the result. In addition, most central areas are now part of the Blue Zone, meaning that parking is not free. Bansko may be popular for its natural riches but an interesting fact is that it also offers some of the fastest Internet! During the cold season, you can go skiing in popular ski resorts like Borovets, which is an hour and a half drive from the city. A man casually shoots a homeless guy in broad daylight as others watch and do nothing. The Sea Garden is a destination where both locals and expats love to spend their days, surrounded by nature and calm vibes. Renting a property is relatively cheaper, especially if you choose a region outside the city centre. Bulgaria is eminent for its ability to successfully prepare students thoroughly in studies like maths, history, arts, languages and literature, biology, chemistry, and others. Plovdiv is a good place to live for all ages. better place to live than two-thirds of the world, All You Need To Know About Medical Insurance for Foreigners in Bulgaria. Its safe to say that its the busiest city in the country and a multicultural hub of professionals and students from all over the world. The expat scene in Sofia is small but tight-knit. Living in Popovo, youll soon start to feel as if all your neighbours are family. Popovo may not be a large city but it also has delicious food to offer in a few quality restaurants. Its definitely a big difference from where Im from I spent 17 years living in California (San Francisco to be precise) and 9 in New York City but for now, its home! You can visit St. Anastasia Island, which is a small islet with a monastery and a lighthouse, lake Atanasovsko, lake Pomorie, and others. The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Bulgaria to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Thankyou Suzanne Locke! Recently, the city has become an attraction for digital nomads thanks to its vast range of suitable cafes and coworking spaces. Youll be astonished by the golden domes of one of the main symbols of Sofia the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was created after Bulgarias liberation. The other reason for the decisions these people have made is the cost of living in Bulgaria. Being the poorest and maybe the most corrupted EU member country takes some comfort away. Although Bulgaria is a member of the EU, they still have their own currency, Leva. Once you have your certificate of residence, you need to apply for a Bulgarian ID card or lichna karta. Plovdiv - the new go-to for digital nomads and expats 3. I like that I know the ins and outs of the best sights, restaurants, and things to do in Sofia, but I struggle with a lot of day-to-day interactions, like figuring out an issue with paying bills or handling paperwork at the migration office. Confirm you'd like to join our email list. 10 minuta, anonimno i nije dosadno! It attracts a lot of retired expats thanks to its calm vibes and relaxing environment. That is one of the biggest reasons not to move to California." 4. Kiss were supposed to play their final show in 2021, but pandemic delays to the lengthy final . Im struck with homesickness a lot of the time, even though I know that home is a deeply broken place, and Im terrified of whats happening in America on a public health, political, and moral level. Bulgaria is a great place to live if youre not sensitive and particularly good if you have an income from outside of Bulgaria, for example, a pension, or work for a foreigner company, definitely is a nice place to start a family and better place to live than two-thirds of the world. The ski resort of Bansko (and nearby spa village Banya) has obvious charms. :D Cijenimo lina uea, dijeljenje upitnika i upvotes. Leslie Grantham: Bulgarias most famed Briton? For people living in BiH: Istraivanje ekonomskog ponaanja u BiH i drugim zemljama Question Istraujemo kakve finansijske izbore prave stanovnici BiH i drugih zemalja. Many things are cheaper, such as food, alcohol, clothes and eating out in restaurants and you can live a wealthy lifestyle . 7M. The procedure is relatively straightforward, but if you have any questions, contact or visit the Bulgarian Embassyor a Consulate. Its completely natural to see deers, boards, rabbits, hares, and squirrels moving through the villages. Popovo - the place where anyone can feel at home 7. I guess its best kept under wraps. Potrebni uesnici 30+ godina starosti. Read more in our full article, The Pros And Cons Of Living In Bulgaria. Most of the jobs here for expats involve speaking a second language in addition to English and providing customer and technical support, though there are of course other options. If youre a fan of wine youll also love a visit to Kaleto Fortress and Sharapanite wine cellars that date back to ancient Thracian times. Bulgaria operates a flat tax system whereby personal and corporate tax rates are 10% across the board. Registering my business in Bulgaria was a total headache. Private international schools like the Ango-Americal School of Sofia offer a range of extracurricular activities, student clubs, and events for students to attend. But do think about this aspect of your relocation carefully and well in advance of you committing to move. Renting will allow you to get familiar with the area and make sure it works for you all year round. You can ship your belongings to Bulgaria by sea, air or land; its close enough to drive your stuff over and pets yourself too. A popular tourist destination, Veliko Tarnovo contains an old spirit yet offers a modern experience at the same time. Knowing the language or having a local friend who knows the ways is the best way to proceed. Its located on the banks of the Maritsa river in the Thrace region, southeast of Sofia. 11- Bulgarians are a very proud nation. Follow us on on Twitter. It was so much easier in New York. Looking good always trumps feeling comfortable here. So what is it like to live in Bulgaria and how do you go about moving and settling down there? Find out more about us HERE. We promise not spam your inbox From our contacts and from forums, the answer is yes: you can still open a Bulgarian bank account as a non-resident (although one Bulgarian, who had helped a non-resident Greek contact open an account recently, told us it was a challenging task). Its a perfect place to live if youre after a calm and relaxed way of living, where every moment is full of joy and a feeling of belonging. We live in a gorgeous brand new apartment with a beautiful view of Vitosha yet the elevator barely works, meaning I often have to walk up or down 8 flights of stairs. Fruit and vegetables are for sale everywhere and are the most delicious. Next up on the list is Plovdiv, Bulgarias second-largest city. Regards, Hi Mark, you can find detailed information on various locations in Bulgaria in our location guides here: https://expatra.com/guides/bulgaria/. They inherit properties which help them to somehow survive with such a low salary. If you are considering relocating with children, you can choose to educate your children locally in Bulgaria, or they can attend an international school if you live in or close to Sofia where theres plenty of choice in terms of school and curriculum. Another thing thats given me culture shock is how Bulgarians nod their yes but mean no, and vice versa! If you are resident in Bulgaria, you should exchange your UK licence for a Bulgarian driving licence at your nearest traffic police department within six months, after first registering with Bulgarian authorities. Over-sold as a location after its entry into the European Union in 2008, a real estate bubble quickly formed and burst in Bulgaria, which has left some out of pocket, particularly if they invested in big new tourist developments on the coast or in the ski resorts. Friendly locals Some less than positive aspects of living in Bulgaria 1. Punishment includes imprisonment from 1 to 4 years, a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 leva . A new and exciting bar, restaurant, coffee shop, or boutique seems to be opening up in the center nearly every other day. Getting across the city without a car is easy thanks to the well-developed underground stations. Britons will have to go through the immigration procedures set for non-EU citizens. You can live a pretty luxurious life without checking your budget too frequently without thinking too much about it. Expats choose to live in Varna for many reasons, however, the main one is the wonderful golden sands of Varnas coastline. As to your second request, the best way is to connect to expats living in Bulgaria and talk to them directly. For instance, we were told, in Vratsa you can open a bank account with 450 lev but in Shumen it is 1,000 lev and in Veliko Turnovo around 3,000 lev. The 9 Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, Living In Bulgaria: Essential Expat Guide 2023, The British Expats Who Bought A Ruin In Bulgaria, 7 Reasons To Consider Living In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, The Ins And Outs Of Living In Sofia, Bulgaria As An Expat, An Essential Guide To Living in Varna, Bulgaria As An Expat, Expatras list of the cheapest countries to retire. Plovdiv doesnt have an underground but it does offer bus transportation to most parts of the city. I joke that its bizarre that my circle in Sofia is an American, a Zimbabwean, and a Brazilian, but thats the reality! Varna is a whole different story. The average salary after taxes in Bulgaria is $852, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.2 months. If you have any questions about our guides or the country discussed feel free to contact us or leave a comment below and we'll get back to you. Living in Bulgaria: A Quick Guide for U.S. Expats. Built on seven hills, it has a partially restored Roman stadium and an open-air Roman theatre, now used to stage open-air concerts and plays. A former journalist at Sky News and editor-in-chief for Yahoo, her work has appeared in various publications including Red Bull, The National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates and Expatra. If you dont speak the language, the types of jobs you can get will be low paid jobs and you will have to work very hard to scrape a living together. Retirees may find that their pension income goes far further in Bulgaria and they could benefit from a move as they will not be dependent on the local economy to provide them with a living. Of course, there are also a ton of options to choose from when it comes to dining out in a fancy and highly rated restaurant. Your email address will not be published. If you are the kind of person who takes a considered approach to relocation, who has spent time getting to know Bulgaria before moving permanently, you have good chances to adjust well to what is an undoubtedly very beautiful country. All of these destinations will inspire you to spend more time in nature and enjoy weekends of camping by the sea. Especially during summer, Varna is a top destination, even for Bulgarians. You can also get a beer for 2 leva about a Euro. You must put a minimum amount into the account for it to be opened, which differs depending on the area. They can rob and mug you blind and the police will let them off regardless. I shop in malls more often than boutiques, and supermarkets more often than the farmers markets and specialty markets I used to be able to find all over NYC. There were a lot of tears and several meltdowns along the way, but eventually we registered our company in Bulgaria. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The rate of homeownership in Bulgaria is high, at close to 90 percent, with many Bulgarians inheriting land and even a second home. As retiring here is more of a settlement, expats who have made the move tend to scatter more widely into local communities around the country. A lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia. Even if getting to live here was not an easy task! Paperwork can be painful. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is a great blog! There are some amazing areas to live in Plovdiv. A lot of expats who have chosen to live in Varna prefer the outskirts or calmer neighbourhoods like Trakata or Vinitsa, where there are both cosy and luxurious houses with large backyards. Bulgaria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. They tend to be the ones who have a solid income in place, and who are willing to learn the local language and completely adapt. She spends her time running travel websites: Eternal Arrival, Sofia Adventures, and California Crossroads and co-hosting a weekly podcast about anxiety, Im Anxious About. Its big, spacious, and brand new with gorgeous views, though the price is definitely on the high end for the city we just were struggling to find a landlord who would let us have a dog, and we ended up having to go with a pricier apartment as a result of it. On the other hand, many have fallen in love with Bulgarias old-world charm and tradition, some likening it to 1950s Britain. I was curious about Bulgaria from an American perspective and I appreciate how thoughtful you are. Summers in Sofia are hot enough for a great day tanning at a swimming pool while winters are a delight for ski lovers. Cost of living in Sofia is the best part of being based here! A hate crime is a criminal offence in Bulgaria, and perpetrators receive stricter punishments than those who commit a regular crime. 2-Bulgarias population is reducing fast. People from Bulgaria can dance! Veliko Tarnovo - a historically rich and truly beautiful city 5. With over 90 neighbourhoods, you can expect a different vibe in every city area. DSK Expressbank and Postbank were both recommended as Bulgarian banks for foreigners. When it comes to buying, dont just rely on local friends to help with the language hire local, English-speaking notaries and attorneys. Depending on your lifestyle, you can live as basically or as liberally as you choose here. Mobile phone packages are cheap for 25 leva you get unlimited calls to all networks with some GB internet. Best places to live in Bulgaria 1. The immigration process, registering with a doctor, opening a bank account, buying a property in Bulgaria and other things involving state organisations remain a complex process that should not be underestimated. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. Dobrich your first step to a magnificent experience, 8. Living in Bulgaria - Pros & Cons Positive aspects of expat life in Bulgaria 1. Perhaps, it never really was. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Bulgaria before you move there. They attract a very good salary which they can live on here exceptionally well, especially if they work remotely for a company from abroad. Romania has the fastest internet anywhere on the continent. Expats often choose Haskovo as a popular Bulgarian place to live in as it offers the comfort and cosiness of the small town but its also extremely close to Plovdiv, where you can quickly travel to. The Ups and Downs of Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Fitting in as an Expat Living in Bulgaria, Day to Day Life While Living in Sofia, Bulgaria, Getting Around the City and Finding Housing, The Cultural Differences of Living in Bulgaria. However, you are likely to be offered a debit card only, rather than a credit card, without residency. Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. When it comes to the cost of living, the average monthly budget of a family of four ranges between 2,500 lv (1,091/$1,511) and 3,000 lv (1,309/$1,813) without rent. If you are moving to Bulgarias capital Sofia, it is important to note that the average salary in the capital is around 2000 leva (876.13 / $1,220.66) for the same period. There is no risk of theft or any type of crime in Popovo as the locals pretty much know each other and theres a sense of trust and connection. To keep informed, check ourLiving In Europe After Brexit guide on a regular basis. The Greek neighbourhood is also an area that expats love to explore as it offers amazing architecture, small vibrant streets, and attractive street shops and coffee shops. The climate is pretty similar to that of Varna, offering the best of both summer and winter. Bulgarias appeal was on the rise prior to and immediately following EU accession, and this resulted in a small wave of immigration particularly from the UK and Ireland. Varna is popular for its seagull population, keep in mind that theyre quite intrusive. In fact, Bulgaria, in general, is well-known for its blazing Internet that allows you to easily communicate online whenever you want to. We avoid military conflicts, crime is low, we don't actively engage in heated political debates, public protests are rare (but avoid them if they do break out), and religions coexist happily on the whole. Heavy snow in winter, driving a little zanier than you are used to in the UK and potholes mean you will probably want a four-wheel-drive vehicle and will drive on the right side of the road. Can rob and mug you blind and the UK has a double-taxation agreement with Bulgaria to ensure people not! New restaurants, nightclubs, and vice versa, agreements, and website in this browser for next. With some GB internet relaxing environment to 4 years, a fine of 5,000 to leva... And have been living here since making it about two and a half years.. An American perspective and I am looking at moving to Europe in the Thrace region, of. Become an attraction for digital nomads and expats love to spend evenings outside step to a experience... 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