Moving to Bulgaria: visas, cost of living & citizenship

About $900 a month for one person and $1,900 for a family of four in Sofia, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $550 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,000. Prices are 24% of US levels. Bulgaria is the 2nd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Bulgaria scores 66/100 for safety (safe), ranking 41st of 76. The homicide rate is 1.09 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Bulgaria scores 47/100 for stability (moderate), ranking 57th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Bulgaria scores 57/100 for family-friendliness (good), ranking 47th of 76. Life expectancy is 75.8 years and under-5 mortality is 5.7 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

Usually 10 yrs of residence. 5 years as a permanent resident. Dual citizenship: limited.

Yes. Digital nomad visa: About €2,300/month; 2 years (rules updated December 2025).

Yes: the Digital nomad visa. About €2,300/month; 2 years (rules updated December 2025).

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)