12 great reasons for moving to Bulgaria could be easily many more!
You can can spend a few thousand Euro on a house and land needing renovation to a fully furnished 110sqm two-bedroom luxury apartment directly looking over the Black Sea and golden beach for just €250,000. Compared to most European seaside destinations in Europe that’s a bargain.
So lets get started….
- Real Estate is cheap – My 2-bedroom 2 storey stone cottage on 1730sqm of land in a popular village in Bulgaria cost me just €6500, needing renovation I spent another €6000 over 6 months to put in a new EU regulation septic, whole kitchen, plastered the walls, painted the windows and doors, installed a bathroom and now living comfortably in my new home. Most work was done by local tradespeople and for the kitchen, I found a great ‘pre-loved’ one complete with stove and refrigerator. Do it yourself and it all becomes much cheaper.
2. Cost of living – Fortunately Bulgaria still use their native currency the Leva and not the Euro. Generally, costs are much lower than most Western European countries, the UK etc. Property rentals are 1/3 of the cost of their Western Europe and UK equivalents. Food and alcohol are cheap (500ml beer at the supermarket for 0.70€!) Eating out is half the cost, often less. Power and internet are relatively cheap, fuel and manufactured imports are pretty well the same though.
3. Location – Situated on the Black Sea and bordered by Greece, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Romania the historic and cultural melting pot of ancient lands The Balkan region provides us, fortunate residents, with so many options to explore. From my home in Central Bulgaria, I am just 3 hours’ drive to the Mediterranean and Black seas, 4 hours’ drive to Istanbul, Turkey’s capital, 5 hours to Bucharest in Romania and a day’s drive to Albania and Montenegro on the Adriatic Sea for the overnight ferry to Italy and beyond.
4. Weather – A defined 4 seasons and picture-perfect landscapes, hot summers mild Spring and Autumn and winter cold with snow during January into February. I welcome the changing vistas, my favourite being Spring when the Balkans comes alive, vibrant in colour and activity. Summers for the beaches, golden sands, breezy cafes, winters for the fireplace, feet up with a glass of red, snow resting on the windowpanes. Autumn is quiet and reflective in shades of red, gold, orange and greens, time for winemaking and pickling. You often pinch yourself, how lucky to be here…
5. Natural and man-made beauty – Nothing prepared me adequately for the natural beauty of Bulgaria and the Balkans in general. If it’s not the beauty of the landscape, it’s also the cities and small towns and villages. Mountain ranges that offer both scenery and culture, the Black Sea with stunning beaches, rocky headlands and seaside towns and resorts. Rivers and lakes for fishing and water sport. Indulge your passion for skiing in the winter ski resorts. Best still is that as Bulgaria is small enough to have all available within half a day’s drive.
6. Food and wine – Bulgarian cuisine always astounds me with its variety. From the smell of BBQs for meat lovers to fresh seafood, salads and vegetarian dishes. The low cost of eating invites exploring the Bulgarian cuisine even more rewarding. A melting pot of cultures for centuries reflects in the diversity of their food. Apart from the excellence of the local Bulgarian food and wine why not drive a few hours and be dining at Seafood cafes on the Mediterranean Sea or sipping Turkish coffee and sweets overlooking the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey? As for the wine, there is a growing number of boutique wineries producing outstanding reds and whites, many with indigenous grape varieties.
7. Culture – So much of the Balkans retains its heritage and thousands of years of culture. A melting pot of the region that is still present today. The towns and villages often surprise you with some new experience that for the locals has been part of their lives for eons. Parades, ceremonies to welcome in harvests, family traditions, commemorations of past deeds and battles won, music and opera played on ancient ruins. Not all is old, you’re just as likely to see a billboard advertising an international heavy metal band. Your choice on a platter.
8. History – With an ancient history going back 6000 BC the idea that Roman history is almost considered modern in comparison. From the Thracians to Romans and the Ottoman Empires and others, all have left their mark on Bulgaria which is reflected in the country’s ancient buildings, roads and amazing artefacts. Often I visit Plovdiv and Stara Zagora, sitting on stone seats at the stages of Roman Amphitheatre which are still putting on theatre and musical events. Walking old Roman roads, exploring Thracian burial chambers, even right up to the Ottoman wars of the 1800s and more recently the Communist regime. Bulgaria is a constant reminder of our ancestors’ lives.
9. People – Love Bulgaria, love the people. Bulgarians overall are warm-hearted and friendly If you visit many shops, cafes, banks and particularly government institutions you will often be met with an indifferent, less than helpful staff member. Painful to see when you know that Bulgarians as with most Balkan countries you won’t be left out in the cold, hospitality is in their genes. Help will always be close at hand and often as a neighbourly gesture, although every village has a dozen ‘Masters’ coming up to you promising they can do any form of work on your house for a small fee and not always with a good result.
10. Transport – Car buying in Bulgaria is amongst the cheapest in Europe, just make sure you have a mechanic or someone mechanically minded check the vehicle over thoroughly as there are many damaged vehicles bought in from neighbouring countries being repaired. You will often see car yards full of shiny used cars and next door a large smash repair business…one thing is for sure, there is a great selection to choose from.
11. Public transport – Cheap. Trains are pretty run down but you can get from Sofia to the Varna on the Black Sea Bulgaria by train for under €20 (and that’s 1st Class). I’ve caught them plenty of times and have enjoyed the journey much more than the bus. Buses are usually full, not as comfortable, a little bit dearer but overall, still very cheap. Taxis are also cheap, Varna Airport taxis to the city beaches cost around €10-12. Similarly for Sofia taxis.
12. Accommodation – I am often amazed at how low the price is for short term/travel accommodation. Recently I stayed at Ahterpol, a top floor apartment with a great view out across the Black Sea for just €45 for two nights! Awesome value. There is a huge variety of accommodation in Bulgaria, from the sea to the ski fields, cities and villages. So visiting Bulgaria will be a real money saver. The best thing is that the accommodation is mostly excellent with hosts most willing to make sure your stay is comfortable. Personally, my preferred booking service is Booking.com.
