What are the best cities to live in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is located in the south-east of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. It became a member state of the European Union in 2007. Obviously, the economic development level of Bulgaria is still far from the rest of the EU member states. For instance, the minimum salary here is 7 times lower than that in Luxembourg.
Nevertheless, macroeconomic indicators of the Bulgarian economy show a positive trend:
GDP is growing steadily;
- the level of inflation and unemployment is low;
- tax rates are also low;
- the cost of living is acceptable.
For these reasons, many foreigners, including Russians, seek to live, study, work and do business in Bulgaria with the prospect of obtaining a residence permit and eventually moving to the country for good.
Below you will find a rating of the five best Bulgarian cities to live in 2021. The list is based on the results of the surveys conducting with the help of local residents. It takes into account the environmental situation, the state of affairs in the labour market, the infrastructure for living with a family, the level of medical care and education.
Burgas
Burgas, located on the Black Sea coast in the south-west of the country, is recognized as the best place for living in Bulgaria in 2021. Both Bulgarians and immigrants participated in a survey, which awarded the first place to the city.
Despite the fact that the population of the city is only 210,000, it is still an important industrial, transport, tourist and cultural hub of Bulgaria’s infrastructure. It is a great place for residence, work and relaxation. Burgas is also considered to be a city of knowledge due to its well-developed educational infrastructure.
Rent of a one-room studio in the centre of Burgas costs about $400 per month.
Sofia
The second city on the list is Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and the largest settlement in the country, with 1.3 million people. Sofia, located among the mountains in the western part of the state, is also a perfect place for permanent residence:
- The city is included in the list of European capitals with the most affordable standard of living.
- Sofia has a well-developed labour market — it is easy to find a job here, even compared to other cities in Bulgaria, while the level of salaries is higher than the national average.
- Sofia is regarded as the best city in the state for conducting business.
Rent of a one-room studio in the centre of Sofia is around $335 per month.
Plovdiv
Last but not least, among the top 3 best cities in Bulgaria is the city of Plovdiv located in the south of the country. It is one of the most crucial transport hubs of the state. The city is an ancient metropolis, which goes after the capital in terms of its population (347,000 people). Plovdiv boasts impressive architecture, as well as a rich history and cultural heritage.
Rent of a studio in Plovdiv costs about $225 per month.
Varna
The fourth on the list is a large port city of Varna, situated in the north-east of the country near the Black Sea coast. It is a resort city popular among tourists and citizens of Bulgaria. Varna ranks third among the settlements of the state in terms of its population (315,000 people).
The city is a major economic, transport and cultural centre of Bulgaria. Varna is perfect for living whether you’re going to rent accommodation on your own or move with a family. According to the results of numerous surveys, it is recognized as the best city in Bulgaria in terms of life quality.
Rent of a one-room studio in the central areas of the city costs around $225 per month on average.
Stara Zagora
The fifth best city to live in Bulgaria is Stara Zagora, situated in the central part of the country with a population of more than 136,000 people. It is the sixth largest settlement in the state, recognized as the safest place to live in Bulgaria. Moreover, Stara Zagora has an excellent clean environment.
The monthly rent for a one-room studio in Stara Zagora is about $200.
As you can see, there are lots of options to choose from when moving to Bulgaria. The country is also famous for its delicious traditional cuisine, excellent climate and marvellous landscapes.
