The reasons why Bulgaria becomes attractive: “Imagine Serbia, but with a beautiful coast and European integration”

Low wages compared to those of other states of the European Union do not discourage many Bulgarians from proudly presenting the advantages of life in their country. Bulgaria is described as a place where you can live decent, even without western salaries, and a few special things do it attractive.

Vidin Fortress. Bulgaria. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

Officially, several thousand Romanians live in Bulgaria, a country that, in the last two decades, has had a European course similar to that of Romania.

The two states, separated from the Danube and tied since the 1950s through the Friendship Bridge (Giurgiu -Ruse), and more recently through the Calafat -Vidin Bridge, they joined NATO in 2004, and three years later they became members of the European Union.

In 2025, they were admitted together in the Schengen area, with the elimination of controls at all borders between them. Both Romania and Bulgaria have crossed a long period of communism, which deeply influenced their evolution.

The decades of totalitarian regime have brought forced industrialization, nationalization of properties, restriction of freedoms and isolation from the West. In recent years, although they are still following many European states in salaries and living level, Romania and Bulgaria have made significant progress in the economy, developing sectors such as industry, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and green energy.

Bulgaria has a population almost three times smaller than that of Romania and an economy about 3.5 times lower.

Low salaries and low prices

Asked on online platforms about the advantages of life in Bulgaria, many Bulgarians have spoke praised about their own country. One of the most commonly mentioned positive aspects is the low cost of life, considerably lower than in western European states.

The city of Vidin. Photo: Daniel Guță Adevărul

“I would say that Bulgaria has the best ratio between the average salary, the cost of life, services and infrastructure in the Balkans (if we exclude Slovenia). It has an important nuclear power plant (Kozloduy) and produces a lot of green energy. The highways are very cheap, the health system is good, the public transport is to be introduced 60 modern trains. Clean drinking, clean air, work opportunities, tasty food, fuels, cheap foods and utilities, popular ski resorts, Black Sea and thermal waters ””wrote a Bulgarian user on Reddit.

Regarding salaries, the neighbors from the south of the Danube earns, on average, between 1,000 and 1,200 Bulgarian Leva per month (about 500–600 euros). In more developed regions, such as Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, wages are above average compared to those in rural areas.

“Although the average salary in Bulgaria may seem modest in relation to Western Europe standards, it should be emphasized that the cost of life is lower. Therefore, the purchasing power can be higher than the gross figures suggest. However, many Bulgarians choose to work abroad for higher incomes, which influences the local labor market and the national average.” It shows the Timecamp website, specialized in time management.

Calafat Bridge – Vidin. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

The best paid fields in Bulgaria are IT, medicine, engineering, finance, law and management. Other well -paid sectors include marketing, sales, logistics and aviation – professions that involve advanced skills and are related to industrial and high revenue industries.

However, some locals draw attention to the continuous increase in living costs, especially due to housing.

“The prices of real estate continue to increase. One of the reasons is the conflict in Ukraine, which led to a refugee influx and increased the demand. Knowing the local mentality, it will take until the prices decrease. The adoption of the euro will most likely bring an increase in inflation. So, I do not say that there is no good, It is no longer the good business that was 7-8 years ago ”, He reported a local, on Reddit.

Sought by nature lovers

In addition to a lower cost of life than in the rest of the European Union, many Bulgarians claim that their country is an attractive place for those who would like to settle here, due to the varied relief and the gentle climate.

Mountain areas such as Rila, Pirin or Stara Planina attract nature lovers, while the resorts on the Black Sea coast are accessible, popular among tourists and loaded with history.

Vidin. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

Modern destinations such as Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, others more quiet, such as Sozopol and Albena, or cultural -specific resorts, such as the Balchik or Nessebar, have become more and more frequented in recent years.

The climate is generally milder than the one in the Carpathians of Romania, with shorter and easier winters, the locals say. Others appreciate local food and character, in general, friendly people.

Albena. Bulgaria. Source: Wikipedia

“As a British in love with Bulgaria, I adore the rhythm of relaxed life and the freedom to live as you wish, family values, food (much underestimated!), The kindness of people-even if some may seem direct or harsh, most of the young people I have known are very friend, Be appliances, they have prices similar to those in the UK. confesses an Englishman established in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, quieter than Serbia

A Bulgarian states that his country does not face the chaos specific to the Western Balkans, such as ethnic tensions or social insecurity.

“In general, accession to the European Union has made life much more prosperous, in an unimaginable way. If the euro will be adopted next year, this will mean a significant impulse for the economy. Sofia is a European metropolis, with a Western urban lifestyle, efficient public transport and many green spaces. it becomes crowded ”, add it, on the Reddit platform.

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Bulgaria Sunny Beach 08 JPG

Another Bulgarian notes that although the standard of living is not very high, the quality of life and economy are still better than in Serbia.

“Imagine Serbia, but with a beautiful coast, European integration and less nationalism. The quality of life and GDP are higher, but not much-just a little. That's essentially. My older relatives go to Serbia to buy various things, even though they are sometimes weaker. Apparently, our currency is stronger.”he says.

However, some Bulgarians recognize that their country is experiencing demographic challenges, and bureaucracy and corruption can create difficulties for those who want to settle here. The Bulgarian language can be an obstacle in integration, but the real challenge for foreigners is often the Cyrillic alphabet.