Is it good to live in Sofia? Some call Sofia a “provincial capital”. And on the coat of arms of Sofia there is an inscription “growing, but not aging”. And indeed, the age of the Bulgarian capital is not immediately apparent. But only if you look closely then you can see it.
Sofia is the largest city by population in Bulgaria, with a population of 1,383,435.
Location
Sofia is located in the west of Bulgaria and is surrounded by five mountains. The altitude of the central part of the city is more than 500 meters above sea level, and the outskirts of the capital are even higher – up to 600-800 meters. Administratively, Sofia is divided into 24 districts, or as they are called here – communities, the largest district of Sofia is called Lyulin. It is so large that it has its own center.
The Aegean Sea in Greece can be reached from Sofia in 3 hours. But the Black Sea, 380 km away, can be reached in 4 hours by car along the Trakia highway.
Climate
The climate in Sofia is characterized as humid continental. The warmest month in Sofia is July, with an average air temperature of +21.2 degrees. Although the city is surrounded by mountains, the city is open to cold northern winds from the northeast. Therefore, winters here are much harsher than on the coast. On the coldest winter days, the temperature can drop to -15 degrees and even lower, especially in January.
There is also a large daily fluctuation in air temperature. So when we arrived in the morning it was +5, and in the afternoon the temperature rose to +26 degrees. In the summer, the capital is a little cooler than the rest of the country due to the higher altitude above sea level.
Transport
You can get to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, by any means of transport. By plane. Sofia Airport has connections with more countries and cities than other airports in Bulgaria. Entry to the airport costs from 2 euros.
Of course, you can get there by train. There is a railway station. By bus. There are several bus stations in Sofia that accept buses from many countries around the world.
Sofia has a well-developed public transport system: buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro. The price of a regular city ticket on any transport is 80 cents per trip. There is also a day ticket for all ground transport routes, which costs 2 euros. The price of a monthly metro ticket: a personalized ticket is 18 euros and a regular ticket is 21.5 euros. Monthly ticket for all types of transport: a personalized ticket is 25 euros and a regular ticket is 35 euros.
The city is divided into parking zones. So parking in the blue zone costs 1 euro per hour and is allowed for no more than 2 hours. In the green zone you can park for up to 4 hours at a price of 0.5 euro per 1 hour. You can pay by SMS or using the Urbo app.
Housing
What about housing in Sofia? New housing is being built in Sofia.
Prices for renting a one-room apartment start from 200 euros.
And for 215 euros per month we found this option.
Rental prices for a two-room apartment start from 230 euros.
And for 245 euros per month we found this option.
I would like to point out that these are prices for long-term rent. In Bulgaria, long-term rent is rent when concluding a lease agreement for 1 year or more. In case of early termination, before six months, the deposit remains with the owner of the apartment.
Prices for apartments start from 40 thousand euros.
A one-room apartment like this can be bought for 46,900 euros,
And this two-room apartment costs 63,750 euros.
But not equipped, simply put one box. Also for Sofia it is necessary to keep in mind that the city is big and conditions and infrastructure differ greatly from district to district. Therefore we do not recommend buying an apartment right away without living in a given district for some time.
Economy. Salaries and standard of living
According to the most recent data, the average monthly salary is 2,298 leva before taxes and fees. For comparison, in Varna it is 1,514 leva, and in Burgas 1,343 leva. The unemployment rate in Sofia is 3.3%, in Varna 4.1%, and in Burgas 4.8%.
Crime
The number of crimes per 1000 people in Sofia in 2020 was 1.7. For comparison, in Varna 2.5, in Burgas 2.5.
Medicine
The number of people per doctor in medical institutions according to the latest data in Sofia is 180 people, in Varna 196, in Burgas 300 people.
Infrastructure
Municipal expenses per person living in Sofia are 1020 leva. In Varna such expenses are 1062 leva and in Burgas 1021 leva. The price of water is 2.93 leva per cubic meter, in Varna 4.54 leva, in Burgas 4.39 leva.
I will add to what has been said. The city municipality has installed dog feeders. They can be seen in parks and squares. In order for the food to fall on the animals, you need to insert a bottle of water into a special hole. Such a feeder is designed for two dogs at once.
Also, public automatic toilets with a self-cleaning system have recently been installed around the city. But there are very few of them so far.
Education
There are 22 universities in Sofia, both state and private. There are colleges, gymnasiums, schools, kindergartens. There are 13 specialized schools for children with special needs.
Culture and attractions
Sofia has a huge range of cultural attractions, historical buildings, theaters, and many museums. Many of them are included in the hundred national tourist sites. The National Palace of Culture (NPC) is located in the center of Sofia. It was built in the style of modernism, or more precisely, in the style of brutalism. This is a trend in architecture from the 50s to the 70s. It originally arose in the architecture of England. One of the main attractions of the city is the 19th-century St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church.
A popular place for a stroll in Sofia is the Central Pedestrian Street on Vitosha Boulevard. It is a very pleasant place for leisurely strolls. The cafes on the pedestrian street are located right in the open air, and the lampposts, benches and kiosks have recently been combed in an elegant Art Nouveau style.
The two oldest and most famous bridges in Sofia are the Eagle Bridge and the Lion Bridge. The Lion Bridge is located near the city center over the Vladaiska River. The largest park in Sofia is Borisova Gradina, formerly known as the Freedom Park. Of course, this is not even 10% of the attractions in Sofia. This is a topic for a separate and not a single video. For shopping lovers, there are shopping malls in Sofia. The most popular are: Serdika Center, The Mall, Sofia Ring Mall, Mall of Sofia, Bulgaria Mall.
Unlike other cities in Bulgaria, I was surprised that parking in some shopping centers is paid for when parked for more than two hours.
Pros
- The view of the mountains is amazing! The ability to wake up in the morning and see the mountains from the window.
- There is a greater choice of flight destinations from Sofia airport.
- The city’s convenient location, for example, close to the Greek sea coast.
- Compared to Varna, the tap water is less hard, there is almost no scale in the kettle. Locals say that you can drink the water without boiling, but we did not try.
- The streets are cleaner than, for example, in Varna.
- There is a wide choice of accommodation.
- There are attractions and entertainment both in the center and in the surrounding areas.
- The main advantage is the maximum number of opportunities and one of the highest average salaries in Bulgaria.
- The capital is suitable for people who love cultural events, exhibitions, festivals.
- Almost all chain stores are present in the city, so the prices for goods are low.
- There is 5G coverage in the city.
Cons
- There is a high probability of an earthquake, as the last major earthquake was in 2012.
- Winters are harsher, continental and colder compared to Varna and Burgas, where even snow cover is rare and short-lived in winter.
- There are traffic jams compared to Varna and Burgas.
- More time is spent on traveling to work, school, etc. due to the long distances.
- Large daily fluctuations in air temperature.
- There is a serious problem of air pollution. One of the reasons is its location in the Sofia Valley, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides, which reduces the ability of the atmosphere to clean itself. The air of the capital is mainly polluted by small dust particles and nitrogen oxides. And if you add heating in winter with wood and coal…
Conclusions
Sofia is a city with maximum opportunities, first of all, for earnings and career, but the cost of living is also higher. The city has a fast pace of life. Of course, it has its own atmosphere and its own face. But for those who value ecology and air frequency, and already have income, then living in the city will not be very comfortable and does not make much sense. I hope this article was useful for you, write comments with your thoughts and questions.
