Hello everyone,
I live in the city of Varna, with my wife and two step kids. At present we own a three bed maisonette (difficult to find, as there's so few). Previously we rented a large, old, two bed apartment.
Here is our cost of living per item... I have included things we no longer pay for, that I know the prices for.
Rent (previous 2 bed apartment). 550 Leva per month. But this will have risen significantly to around 900 Leva per month, mostly due to an influx of Ukrainian migrants into Bulgaria.
Rent - studio apartment. We also own a studio apartment which commands a longterm rent of 600 leva per month. If we rent it as Airbnb, we can get around 55 Leva per night.
Rent - lockable garages. We have two. We rent them for 200 Leva per month. We also have a parking space that we rent for 150 Leva per month.
Property purchase...
This is a tricky subject, as there's often no consistency in prices. In March last year, we were looking at three to four bed maisonettes, which ranged from 85,000 Euro to 210,000 Euros. We saw a brand new maisonette, with only two bedrooms, to which they were asking 180,000 Euros! After looking at eight properties, we found an excellent buy, of a 3 bedroom maisonette, built 2008, with an excellent build standard, with significant storage and utility room, two bathrooms and additional basement storage, for 148,000 Euros in a small block (just 6 apartments) North of the city centre.
We also bought a studio apartment, built 2018, nearby, two months later for 55,000 Euro. We looked at around 6 ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 Euros.
We bought two lockable garages for 23,000 Euros each.
We bought a private parking space for 12,000 Leva.
Whilst you can make offers, the offers need to be near or on the asking price. There are plenty of buyers and there's a shortage of decent properties.
Bills...
Water averages 72 Leva per month for 4 people.
Electricity averages 160 Leva per month, which powers 2 large hot water tanks, 1 small kitchen sink tank, four air conditioning units that also heat in winter, washing machine, dryer, cooking hob/oven, fridge freezer, two TVs, three laptops. and lighting.
Municipal tax - yet to be seen, as the previous owners paid the whole year for us, but we expect it to be around 33 Leva per month.
Building maintenance charge - 18 Leva per month.
Food...
Food prices have risen significantly. When we first went to the store in January 2021 we would ne paying 75 Leva for a big shop. Now we're paying 100 Leva. I could itemise many items, but everyone is individual in what they buy, so here's a few items...
Loaf of bread 400gms 2.50 Leva
Water 11 litre bottle. 6.89 Leva
Milk. 1½ litres 5.25 Leva
Yoghurt 400gm pot. 1.40 Leva
Cheese 250gms. 6.50 Levs
Fresh cooked whole chicken 12 Levs
10 large eggs. 3.75 Leva
Bottle of good wine. Between 8 and 14 Leva
Beer 500/600ml bottle between 1.90 Leva and 5 Leva, depending on manufacturer
Chocolate bar Snickers 2.50 Leva
Toilet rolls pack of 20 23 Leva
Vegetables are seasonal and when bought in season are much cheaper...
Tomatoes 1kg
winter - 3.50 Leva summer 1 Leva
Bananas 3.50 Leva per large bunch
Apples 1kg summer 2 Leva winter 3 Leva
Clementines 1kg only winter 3.50 Leva
Apricots 1kg only summer 4.00 Leva
Cabbage large whole 2 Leva
Pumpkin medium. 2.50 Leva
Pharmacy...
Medications can be expensive and, if you're not registered on the public health service, you'll have to pay full cost for the medication. Price depends on each item. Ranges from a few Leva for pain killers up to 80 Leva for specialist medications. If you're registered with the public health service, you can get a discount, buy seeing your GP, for regular, necessary medicines - often as much as 50%. Each medicine is different!
General pharmacy costs have risen significantly...
Paracetamol pack of 20. 6 Leva
Ibuprofen liquid caps 10. 7 Leva
Antihistamine tablets 10. 10 Leva
Transport...
We do not have a car - we used to, but parking is too much of a problem and besides, the transport in Varna, is generally good.
Bus fare 1 hour of travel cash fare 2 Leva
If you buy a card and top it up, the fares are 50% cheaper.
Taxi starting fare 2.15 Leva. Average fare for ten minute journey 8 Leva including tip
Rail fares - check BDZ website, but very cheap. You can travel 1st class across the entire country, for around 33 Leva, including reservation fee.
Eating out...
Depends where you eat and what you choose...
An up market restaurant, meal for two, three courses, wine and water, will cost around 120 Leva.
Medium restaurant, meal for 2, 3 courses, wine and water 85 Leva
Cheap restaurant, meal for 2,3 courses, wine and water 70 Leva.
Remember, these are Varna prices! It's cheaper in small towns and villages.
Coffee... Espresso 2.10 Leva, Cappuccino 3.75 Leva
Tea 1.75 Leva
Croissant 1.30 Leva
Beer in a bar from 3.50 Leva to 7.50 Leva, depending on beer and bar.
Education...
We send both our kids to a private school. The fees are around 3,500 Leva each child, per year over 3 terms. Books are entirely supplied by the school. A small amount of uniform is required, which cost us 200 Leva for both total.
There are extra costs for trips away, special days etc.,
Public school is free, but you have to pay for all books, equipment and trips. That said, public school education has very poor standards and very odd hours (07.30 to 12.30).
We think private education is well worth paying for.
We've also taken football and swimming lessons, which are between 75 Leva and 90 Leva per month each child.
Shopping...
Clothes...
Depends what you want to spend. You can spend as little as 40 Leva for a pair of trousers up to 500 Leva.
We purchased new, very decent, Lenovo Laptops for 1500 Leva each at a computer shop.
We've purchased furniture, but price depends where you shop and what quality you want. We bought a Sofa for 1750 Leva, hand built in Turkey.
We purchased quality wood frame, upholstered, dining chairs for 145 Leva each.
We bought a quality Italian, queen sized matress for 2300 Leva.
Medical Insurance...
Public around 260 Leva per year, which you can pay annually.
Private around 250 Leva per year, depending on amount of cover.
Hope all this helps!
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