For many people, living in Bulgaria sounds like a dream. Enjoy the Black Sea coast, eat delicious food or explore ancient ruins. Having lived in Bulgaria for 10 years, I learned that living in Bulgaria has both pros and cons. What are these cons of living in Bulgaria, you will learn from this article.
1. Smoking
Bulgaria has the highest number of smokers in the European Union. The average smoker in Bulgaria smokes 2,495 cigarettes a year. According to a Bulgarian study, every fifth child smokes. Every fourth child over 10 has tried cigarettes. Accordingly, tobacco smoke can be encountered everywhere. Coming out of the ventilation in the apartment, on the landing, in the elevator and at the bus stop. When a ban on smoking in public transport and catering was introduced in 2012, many restaurants closed.
2. Garbage on the streets
Although the central streets are cleaned, there is a clear shortage of street cleaners. This is noted by both tourists and those who live here. This also includes the heavily worn-out infrastructure of most cities, and underground crossings are a separate topic.
3. Lack of central heating.
There is no central heating in Bulgaria, except for some areas of the capital Sofia. Everyone copes with the situation as best they can. Some buy an electric heater, an air conditioner, and many simply spend the winter in a cold apartment in order to save electricity.
4. Expensive electricity
The level of electricity prices in Bulgaria is significantly higher than in the former CIS countries. And there is a tendency for prices to constantly rise. Also, from July 1, 2024, the night tariff will be cancelled. And electricity will cost at the price of the day tariff, which is much more expensive than the night tariff, regardless of the installed electricity meter and the time of day. As a result, the monthly electricity bill will become even higher. At the moment, the price for 1 kW is 0.14 €.
5. Low wages and pensions
In terms of wages and pensions, Bulgaria traditionally ranks last among all EU countries. The minimum wage is 477€ per month. The minimum pension is 298 euros.
6. High prices for food
For some it will be a “surprise”, but food prices are higher than in Germany or Poland. And finding Bulgarian-produced vegetables or fruits in stores is becoming increasingly difficult. That is why Bulgarians themselves often go shopping in Turkey.
7. Paid medicine
If you have permanent residence status or Bulgarian citizenship, then you will need to pay monthly premiums for health insurance. In case of late payment, a penalty and other sanctions are immediately and automatically charged.
8. Condition of roads and road infrastructure
In the Global Competitiveness Report, Bulgaria is ranked 102nd. Roads and road infrastructure are in poor condition and are deteriorating. This is despite the fact that the roads are toll roads. You need to buy a vignette to drive on them. Not only are there often no or poorly visible road markings, but there are also potholes. The work of road services has deteriorated sharply after the coronavirus. If earlier a pothole in the road was patched up within a week or two, now it takes many months. Vegetation along the roads is not removed, cars clear their own path. As a result of all this, the accident rate is increasing.
9. Poverty
Low standard of living of the population in general. It is not easy to find a new car on the roads of Bulgaria, there are many beggars and not only in tourist places. Locals mainly survive due to the presence of their own real estate, which is rented out.
10. Human factor
Each official makes his own decisions based on how he personally interprets the Law. And if, figuratively, in one window you were conditionally told “no”, then it is quite possible that in another window the answer may be: “yes”.
11. Homeless animals
There are a lot of homeless animals on the streets. In Bulgaria, there are more than 35,000 homeless dogs, according to a report by the National Program for Control of the Stray Dog Population.
12. Bank services
It is very slow and lags behind the level we are used to. Online banking has only just begun to spread here and the possibilities are still very limited. And an ATM can stand idle for a week, and that is normal.
13. High cost of car maintenance
Motor third party liability insurance from one hundred and thirty euros. Annual car tax can be either 25 or 130 €. Annual technical inspection from 20 to 30 €. But despite this, there are more and more cars on the roads.
14. Strict tax legislation
Bulgaria is ranked 97th in the Doing Business ranking for tax quality. You can see the main tax rates in Bulgaria in the picture.
15. Lack of parking for cars
This shortage is particularly felt in large cities and city centres.
16. Lack of preferences for small businesses
Small businesses have the same taxes and operating conditions as mega corporations. The only thing is that there is a threshold for switching to VAT with a turnover of 12 months – 100,000 leva. This is about 50 thousand euros.
17. Low level of digitalization
Just look at the queue at the cash desks. It is impossible to pay for many services online with a card. There are few terminals that accept payments and ATMs that accept cash. But there is slow progress in this direction.
18. Features of apartment layout
Many probably know that bathrooms are usually combined. But not everyone knows that shower cabins are rare in Bulgarian apartments, and a bathtub is even harder to find. In a typical Bulgarian apartment, the shower is a shower head with a hose and a drain hole in the floor, the so-called Italian shower. This is a shower area without a tray, without a conventional cabin. Sometimes you come across apartments with shower cabins, but this is an exception to the rule. This happens in cases where the developer is foreign or when the construction of such complexes is initially aimed at foreigners.
19. Long period of time to obtain citizenship by naturalization
One of the longest terms for obtaining citizenship by naturalization. For example, in England you need to live for at least five years to apply for citizenship. And in Germany you need to live for 8 years to obtain citizenship, and according to the new Law, after 5 years. In Denmark, you must have 9 years of continuous residence before you can apply for citizenship. But in Bulgaria, only after living for 10 years, with certain statuses determined by the Law, can you apply for citizenship by naturalization. It should also be borne in mind that the application review procedure is extended over several years. Therefore, in reality, the procedure for obtaining citizenship is extended over more than 12 years.
I would like to point out that this list includes only those disadvantages that were confirmed by our friends – emigrants. We conducted a mini-survey among them. And after that we included only those disadvantages that were voiced by them.
Results: Who is Bulgaria best suited for?
Although Bulgaria is considered an inexpensive country. But, paradoxically, these are people who are firmly on their feet financially, they have their own stable income, not related to their place of residence. These are pensioners, owners of a profitable business that can work autonomously, IT specialists working remotely. An additional argument for moving will be the availability of a sufficient amount of money to buy housing for living in a new country. In all other cases, we recommend thinking before making an important fateful decision.
If I haven’t mentioned any downsides to living in Bulgaria, please write about them in the comments.
By following this link you will learn about all the advantages of living in Bulgaria.
For many people, living in Bulgaria sounds like a dream. Enjoy the Black Sea coast, eat delicious food or explore ancient ruins. Having lived in Bulgaria for 10 years, I learned that living in Bulgaria has both pros and cons. What are these cons of living in Bulgaria, you will learn from this article.
1. Smoking
Bulgaria has the highest number of smokers in the European Union. The average smoker in Bulgaria smokes 2,495 cigarettes a year. According to a Bulgarian study, every fifth child smokes. Every fourth child over 10 has tried cigarettes. Accordingly, tobacco smoke can be encountered everywhere. Coming out of the ventilation in the apartment, on the landing, in the elevator and at the bus stop. When a ban on smoking in public transport and catering was introduced in 2012, many restaurants closed.
2. Garbage on the streets
Although the central streets are cleaned, there is a clear shortage of street cleaners. This is noted by both tourists and those who live here. This also includes the heavily worn-out infrastructure of most cities, and underground crossings are a separate topic.
3. Lack of central heating.
There is no central heating in Bulgaria, except for some areas of the capital Sofia. Everyone copes with the situation as best they can. Some buy an electric heater, an air conditioner, and many simply spend the winter in a cold apartment in order to save electricity.
4. Expensive electricity
The level of electricity prices in Bulgaria is significantly higher than in the former CIS countries. And there is a tendency for prices to constantly rise. Also, from July 1, 2024, the night tariff will be cancelled. And electricity will cost at the price of the day tariff, which is much more expensive than the night tariff, regardless of the installed electricity meter and the time of day. As a result, the monthly electricity bill will become even higher. At the moment, the price for 1 kW is 0.14 €.
5. Low wages and pensions
In terms of wages and pensions, Bulgaria traditionally ranks last among all EU countries. The minimum wage is 477€ per month. The minimum pension is 298 euros.
6. High prices for food
For some it will be a “surprise”, but food prices are higher than in Germany or Poland. And finding Bulgarian-produced vegetables or fruits in stores is becoming increasingly difficult. That is why Bulgarians themselves often go shopping in Turkey.
7. Paid medicine
If you have permanent residence status or Bulgarian citizenship, then you will need to pay monthly premiums for health insurance. In case of late payment, a penalty and other sanctions are immediately and automatically charged.
8. Condition of roads and road infrastructure
In the Global Competitiveness Report, Bulgaria is ranked 102nd. Roads and road infrastructure are in poor condition and are deteriorating. This is despite the fact that the roads are toll roads. You need to buy a vignette to drive on them. Not only are there often no or poorly visible road markings, but there are also potholes. The work of road services has deteriorated sharply after the coronavirus. If earlier a pothole in the road was patched up within a week or two, now it takes many months. Vegetation along the roads is not removed, cars clear their own path. As a result of all this, the accident rate is increasing.
9. Poverty
Low standard of living of the population in general. It is not easy to find a new car on the roads of Bulgaria, there are many beggars and not only in tourist places. Locals mainly survive due to the presence of their own real estate, which is rented out.
10. Human factor
Each official makes his own decisions based on how he personally interprets the Law. And if, figuratively, in one window you were conditionally told “no”, then it is quite possible that in another window the answer may be: “yes”.
11. Homeless animals
There are a lot of homeless animals on the streets. In Bulgaria, there are more than 35,000 homeless dogs, according to a report by the National Program for Control of the Stray Dog Population.
12. Bank services
It is very slow and lags behind the level we are used to. Online banking has only just begun to spread here and the possibilities are still very limited. And an ATM can stand idle for a week, and that is normal.
13. High cost of car maintenance
Motor third party liability insurance from one hundred and thirty euros. Annual car tax can be either 25 or 130 €. Annual technical inspection from 20 to 30 €. But despite this, there are more and more cars on the roads.
14. Strict tax legislation
Bulgaria is ranked 97th in the Doing Business ranking for tax quality. You can see the main tax rates in Bulgaria in the picture.
15. Lack of parking for cars
This shortage is particularly felt in large cities and city centres.
16. Lack of preferences for small businesses
Small businesses have the same taxes and operating conditions as mega corporations. The only thing is that there is a threshold for switching to VAT with a turnover of 12 months – 100,000 leva. This is about 50 thousand euros.
17. Low level of digitalization
Just look at the queue at the cash desks. It is impossible to pay for many services online with a card. There are few terminals that accept payments and ATMs that accept cash. But there is slow progress in this direction.
18. Features of apartment layout
Many probably know that bathrooms are usually combined. But not everyone knows that shower cabins are rare in Bulgarian apartments, and a bathtub is even harder to find. In a typical Bulgarian apartment, the shower is a shower head with a hose and a drain hole in the floor, the so-called Italian shower. This is a shower area without a tray, without a conventional cabin. Sometimes you come across apartments with shower cabins, but this is an exception to the rule. This happens in cases where the developer is foreign or when the construction of such complexes is initially aimed at foreigners.
19. Long period of time to obtain citizenship by naturalization
One of the longest terms for obtaining citizenship by naturalization. For example, in England you need to live for at least five years to apply for citizenship. And in Germany you need to live for 8 years to obtain citizenship, and according to the new Law, after 5 years. In Denmark, you must have 9 years of continuous residence before you can apply for citizenship. But in Bulgaria, only after living for 10 years, with certain statuses determined by the Law, can you apply for citizenship by naturalization. It should also be borne in mind that the application review procedure is extended over several years. Therefore, in reality, the procedure for obtaining citizenship is extended over more than 12 years.
I would like to point out that this list includes only those disadvantages that were confirmed by our friends – emigrants. We conducted a mini-survey among them. And after that we included only those disadvantages that were voiced by them.
Results: Who is Bulgaria best suited for?
Although Bulgaria is considered an inexpensive country. But, paradoxically, these are people who are firmly on their feet financially, they have their own stable income, not related to their place of residence. These are pensioners, owners of a profitable business that can work autonomously, IT specialists working remotely. An additional argument for moving will be the availability of a sufficient amount of money to buy housing for living in a new country. In all other cases, we recommend thinking before making an important fateful decision.
If I haven’t mentioned any downsides to living in Bulgaria, please write about them in the comments.
By following this link you will learn about all the advantages of living in Bulgaria.
For many people, living in Bulgaria sounds like a dream. Enjoy the Black Sea coast, eat delicious food or explore ancient ruins. Having lived in Bulgaria for 10 years, I learned that living in Bulgaria has both pros and cons. What are these cons of living in Bulgaria, you will learn from this article.
1. Smoking
Bulgaria has the highest number of smokers in the European Union. The average smoker in Bulgaria smokes 2,495 cigarettes a year. According to a Bulgarian study, every fifth child smokes. Every fourth child over 10 has tried cigarettes. Accordingly, tobacco smoke can be encountered everywhere. Coming out of the ventilation in the apartment, on the landing, in the elevator and at the bus stop. When a ban on smoking in public transport and catering was introduced in 2012, many restaurants closed.
2. Garbage on the streets
Although the central streets are cleaned, there is a clear shortage of street cleaners. This is noted by both tourists and those who live here. This also includes the heavily worn-out infrastructure of most cities, and underground crossings are a separate topic.
3. Lack of central heating.
There is no central heating in Bulgaria, except for some areas of the capital Sofia. Everyone copes with the situation as best they can. Some buy an electric heater, an air conditioner, and many simply spend the winter in a cold apartment in order to save electricity.
4. Expensive electricity
The level of electricity prices in Bulgaria is significantly higher than in the former CIS countries. And there is a tendency for prices to constantly rise. Also, from July 1, 2024, the night tariff will be cancelled. And electricity will cost at the price of the day tariff, which is much more expensive than the night tariff, regardless of the installed electricity meter and the time of day. As a result, the monthly electricity bill will become even higher. At the moment, the price for 1 kW is 0.14 €.
5. Low wages and pensions
In terms of wages and pensions, Bulgaria traditionally ranks last among all EU countries. The minimum wage is 477€ per month. The minimum pension is 298 euros.
6. High prices for food
For some it will be a “surprise”, but food prices are higher than in Germany or Poland. And finding Bulgarian-produced vegetables or fruits in stores is becoming increasingly difficult. That is why Bulgarians themselves often go shopping in Turkey.
7. Paid medicine
If you have permanent residence status or Bulgarian citizenship, then you will need to pay monthly premiums for health insurance. In case of late payment, a penalty and other sanctions are immediately and automatically charged.
8. Condition of roads and road infrastructure
In the Global Competitiveness Report, Bulgaria is ranked 102nd. Roads and road infrastructure are in poor condition and are deteriorating. This is despite the fact that the roads are toll roads. You need to buy a vignette to drive on them. Not only are there often no or poorly visible road markings, but there are also potholes. The work of road services has deteriorated sharply after the coronavirus. If earlier a pothole in the road was patched up within a week or two, now it takes many months. Vegetation along the roads is not removed, cars clear their own path. As a result of all this, the accident rate is increasing.
9. Poverty
Low standard of living of the population in general. It is not easy to find a new car on the roads of Bulgaria, there are many beggars and not only in tourist places. Locals mainly survive due to the presence of their own real estate, which is rented out.
10. Human factor
Each official makes his own decisions based on how he personally interprets the Law. And if, figuratively, in one window you were conditionally told “no”, then it is quite possible that in another window the answer may be: “yes”.
11. Homeless animals
There are a lot of homeless animals on the streets. In Bulgaria, there are more than 35,000 homeless dogs, according to a report by the National Program for Control of the Stray Dog Population.
12. Bank services
It is very slow and lags behind the level we are used to. Online banking has only just begun to spread here and the possibilities are still very limited. And an ATM can stand idle for a week, and that is normal.
13. High cost of car maintenance
Motor third party liability insurance from one hundred and thirty euros. Annual car tax can be either 25 or 130 €. Annual technical inspection from 20 to 30 €. But despite this, there are more and more cars on the roads.
14. Strict tax legislation
Bulgaria is ranked 97th in the Doing Business ranking for tax quality. You can see the main tax rates in Bulgaria in the picture.
15. Lack of parking for cars
This shortage is particularly felt in large cities and city centres.
16. Lack of preferences for small businesses
Small businesses have the same taxes and operating conditions as mega corporations. The only thing is that there is a threshold for switching to VAT with a turnover of 12 months – 100,000 leva. This is about 50 thousand euros.
17. Low level of digitalization
Just look at the queue at the cash desks. It is impossible to pay for many services online with a card. There are few terminals that accept payments and ATMs that accept cash. But there is slow progress in this direction.
18. Features of apartment layout
Many probably know that bathrooms are usually combined. But not everyone knows that shower cabins are rare in Bulgarian apartments, and a bathtub is even harder to find. In a typical Bulgarian apartment, the shower is a shower head with a hose and a drain hole in the floor, the so-called Italian shower. This is a shower area without a tray, without a conventional cabin. Sometimes you come across apartments with shower cabins, but this is an exception to the rule. This happens in cases where the developer is foreign or when the construction of such complexes is initially aimed at foreigners.
19. Long period of time to obtain citizenship by naturalization
One of the longest terms for obtaining citizenship by naturalization. For example, in England you need to live for at least five years to apply for citizenship. And in Germany you need to live for 8 years to obtain citizenship, and according to the new Law, after 5 years. In Denmark, you must have 9 years of continuous residence before you can apply for citizenship. But in Bulgaria, only after living for 10 years, with certain statuses determined by the Law, can you apply for citizenship by naturalization. It should also be borne in mind that the application review procedure is extended over several years. Therefore, in reality, the procedure for obtaining citizenship is extended over more than 12 years.
I would like to point out that this list includes only those disadvantages that were confirmed by our friends – emigrants. We conducted a mini-survey among them. And after that we included only those disadvantages that were voiced by them.
Results: Who is Bulgaria best suited for?
Although Bulgaria is considered an inexpensive country. But, paradoxically, these are people who are firmly on their feet financially, they have their own stable income, not related to their place of residence. These are pensioners, owners of a profitable business that can work autonomously, IT specialists working remotely. An additional argument for moving will be the availability of a sufficient amount of money to buy housing for living in a new country. In all other cases, we recommend thinking before making an important fateful decision.
If I haven’t mentioned any downsides to living in Bulgaria, please write about them in the comments.
By following this link you will learn about all the advantages of living in Bulgaria.
