How much money do I need per day in Bulgaria?
Food and Drinks
If you plan on eating out for three meals per day every day that you're in Bulgaria, you should only need to reserve about $25 per person per day. If you'd like alcoholic drinks and snacks, you'll need to allocate a bit more.
More often, expect a main dish at a mid-range restaurant to cost closer to €5-10. Eating out in lesser-touristed places outside of Sofia, Plovdiv, or the Black Sea coast, expect restaurant prices to be even cheaper. However, you should also expect more traditional cuisine options, as well.
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Bulgaria - Coca-Cola - price, September 2022.
| Bulgaria - Coca-Cola - price, September 2022 | |
|---|---|
| EUR | 0.813 |
| Meal in a cheap restaurant | 15 BGN (10.00-30) |
|---|---|
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 70 BGN (50-100) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 12 BGN (10.00-15) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 3.00 BGN (2.00-5.00) |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 4.00 BGN (3.00-6.00) |
The price of Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) in Sofia is 15 лв This average is based on 7 price points. At this point it is only a guess. Latest update: March 27, 2023.
Can you use US dollars in Bulgaria? No, you can't use US dollars in Bulgaria.
The cheapest ice cream costs 1 BGN per cone. In gelaterias you will buy ice cream for 1-1.5 BGN per ball. A portion of pancakes with jam, chocolate, etc. is worth 2 BGN.
Tipping is standard practice in Bulgaria and travelers should aim to tip around 10% of the total bill in a restaurant, provided the service has been up to scratch. Hotel staff are usually left around USD $1 per night for housekeeping and the same for the porters per bag.
Cash is widely accepted form of payment in Bulgaria and it is always better to keep some bills on you. Don't forget to call your credit card companies to let them know you'll be using your cards in Bulgaria. Sometimes a card company will see charges on your card in a different place and freeze your account.
One of the best things about Bulgarian restaurants is that they don't define lunch or dinner time -- most open at around 11am and you can order anything anytime after this. Note that plates are served as they are ready, so don't expect courses to arrive at the same time.
Do they speak English in Bulgaria?
A number of foreign languages are spoken in Bulgaria. Russian is the most commonly spoken foreign language in the country. 35% of the country's population claim to possess a workable knowledge of this language. English is the second most common foreign language in Bulgaria.
One of the most popular dishes in Bulgaria is known as taleshko vareno, a traditional beef and vegetable soup. The soup is usually cooked for hours due to the usage of tougher beef cuts such as beef shank. Vegetables such as carrots, onion, potatoes, and celery are also cooked together with the beef.
| Nation | City | Price in USD Regular/Gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Sofia | $3.52 |
| Brazil | Brasilia | $3.12 |
| Cuba | Havana | $3.03 |
| Taiwan | Taipei | $2.84 |
If you are invited to a meal, you may be asked to begin eating first. This is your host's way of being polite; you can reciprocate the gesture by thanking your host, and suggesting that the most senior person at the table begins their meal, while you follow.
Bulgaria is a very cheap country, and clothing prices are also very low. Actually, it belongs to those countries where clothing items are the cheapest. You can find dresses for less than $30 and running shoes for $70, which is considered quite affordable in comparison to the prices in some other countries.
| COUNTRY | Average Pint Price ( in Euro) | Average Pint Price ( in Pound) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | €0.91 | £0.78 |
| Belarus | €0.87 | £0.75 |
| Hungary | €1.18 | £1 |
| BosniaHerzegovina | €0.97 | £0.82 |
Family of four estimated monthly costs are 2,071.0$ (3,719.0лв) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 591.4$ (1,062.1лв) without rent. Cost of living in Bulgaria is, on average, 44.3% lower than in United States. Rent in Bulgaria is, on average, 79.3% lower than in United States.
Credit Card
Credit Cards (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa) and Debit Cards are accepted in larger hotels and in some restaurants and shops, mainly in Sofia. However, Bulgaria is still a country that operates mainly on Bulgarian cash.
Most of payments in Bulgaria are made with cards. Payment with a card is the best option, since no fees are retained. In large shopping malls, supermarkets and cafes, almost everywhere, there are terminals. Even in ordinary small shops you can pay with a card, but not on the market, transport and street stalls.
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY: 10,000 Euros or equivalent. CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT: 10,000 Euros or equivalent.
How much is a serve of ice cream?
The FDA is now using a 6-ounce reference amount for yogurt. But the serving size for ice cream is now a little larger. Instead of a half of a cup, it's now two-thirds of a cup.
For each person arriving, you should have at least three half-cup (four-ounce) scoops. That totals to 1-1/2 cups of ice cream per person. For example, if you're having 12 guests come to your party, you're going to need 1-1/4 gallons of ice cream (144 ounces, or nine pints).
Rs 60,000. Yes, you read that right. Actor and travel vlogger Shenaz Treasury stumbled upon an interesting flavour of ice cream during her recent trip to Dubai. Treasury dubbed 'Black Diamond', which is served in a Versace bowl at Scoopi Cafe, the world's most expensive ice cream.
- 'I read somewhere that Samuel (Samuil) was a Macedonian king…'
- 'Drive carefully, you are breaking the rules'
- 'The rakia I tried yesterday was better'
- 'I don't want rakia'
- 'Your letters are Russian, right? '
- 'I can tell you an easier way to do that'
- 'Where is Bulgaria? '
The Bulgarian lev is only used in Bulgaria.
Debit Mastercard® and Visa Debit offer all manners of payment and cash withdrawal. You can make contactless payments in Bulgaria and abroad at POS terminals, designated with the respective sign.
In almost every case, euros you can get abroad from an ATM will be cheaper than those you can get back in the States. When buying in advance, get just enough to give you a comfortable cushion and get you through a day's worth of emergency expenses.
| Conversion rates Bulgarian Lev / British Pound Sterling | |
|---|---|
| 1 BGN | 0.44555 GBP |
| 5 BGN | 2.22777 GBP |
| 10 BGN | 4.45554 GBP |
| 20 BGN | 8.91108 GBP |
5. Nazdrave! (Наздраве!/Naz-drah-veh!) Meaning: In Bulgarian they use the same word for “Cheers” when drinking and for “Bless you” when you sneeze.
The Bulgarian authorities treat all drug-related and sex offences very seriously. Custodial sentences can be expected for any foreigners convicted of such offences. Offences relating to drunken, disorderly behaviour and hooliganism may also be treated more seriously than in the UK.
Can you smoke in Bulgaria?
Although EU law now bans the sale of cigarettes in anything less than packs of 20, smaller numbers can be bought on the illicit market. Bulgaria's smoking ban is among the most severe in Europe with no exemptions in bars, restaurants or workplaces (except for shisha) and some restrictions outdoors.
A traditional Bulgarian Breakfast is “Banitsa s boza”. Banitsa is traditional Bulgarian food prepared by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and pieces of cheese between filo pastry and then baking it in an oven. Boza is a drink with thick consistency and a low alcohol content, it has a sweet flavor.
Zdrasti! Здрасти means “Hi,” or “Hello.” We should only use this greeting with friends or relatives. There is another informal way to say “Hello” – Здравей! It has the same meaning as Здрасти and is used when we speak with only one person.
2.1.
Bulgarian yoghurt is a traditional Bulgarian dairy food, a hallmark of the country, produced by microbial lactic acid fermentation of pasteurized milk, inoculated with a starter culture of only two lactic acid bacterial species—Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.
Bulgarian
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet. It is considered the most difficult second language to learn due to its complex grammar and extensive vocabulary.
Bulgarian is most closely related to modern Slovenian, Sebo-Croatian, and Macedonian. It is also closely related to East Slavic languages like Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian, and to West Slavic languages like Sorbian, Polish, Slovak, and Czech.
The constitution recognizes Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the country's “traditional” religion, and the law exempts the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) from registration.
If you have just arrived in Bulgaria and are still curious to taste the vast variety of authentic Bulgarian meals and drinks, undoubtedly the most traditional and emblematic alcoholic beverage to start your night with is the local rakia.
Bulgarian food is tasty, fresh and hearty.
Pork and chicken are the most common forms of meat, though seafood, fish and veal dishes are also popular and lamb has a special traditional place in Bulgarian cooking.
Main courses are very typically water-based stews, either vegetarian or with lamb, goat meat, veal, chicken, or pork. Deep-frying is not common, but grilling—especially of different kinds of sausages—is prominent. Pork is common, often mixed with veal or lamb, although fish and chicken are also widely used.
Is water expensive in Bulgaria?
Water supply
In Bulgaria both hot and cold water are supplied only according to meter, so the payment depends on the amount you use. The cost of one cubic meter is from 2 to 3 BGN and is about 20 BGN per month.
It's cheap here. I pay 1.80 lev for a beer and 8 - 10 lev for my evening meal. You can pay more - you can pay less.
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Bulgaria - Bottled water - price, April 2023.
| Bulgaria - Bottled water - price, April 2023 | |
|---|---|
| EUR | 0.609 |
Social etiquette in Bulgaria is still rather formal. Shaking someone's hand is the most common form of greeting and you should address someone with their title and surname unless you know them well. It is appropriate to wait for the Bulgarian person to decide when to become less formal with you.
You can have a cup of coffee with a sandwich or buy something at the store while your car is being filled up. The staff might also wash your windows in the meantime. If you return to your vehicle before the attendant finishes washing the windows, it is a common courtesy to give a tip. But that is up to you.
Doing Business in Bulgaria
Many businesspeople in Bulgaria speak fluent English, German or French. Dress code is standard suit and tie for men, although this could well be more relaxed especially in warmer weather. Women are expected to wear similarly formal attire.
If you want to spend a week in Bulgaria the cost of your stay will be: 471 USD (837 BGN) - a cheap stay for 7 days in Bulgaria. 586 USD (1,000 BGN) - a budget travel for 7 days in Bulgaria. 792 USD (1,400 BGN) for a one week of comfortable stay in Bulgaria.
For a week of travel in Bulgaria, we suggest you bring an average of £500 for the essentials. Consider taking with you £800 or more if you also want to do some shopping, whether we're talking designer clothing or local products and souvenirs.
Payments In Bulgaria
Cash in Bulgaria is handy, and you should always have some in your pocket. That said, payments with debit/credit cards are becoming more popular.
Laws of the Republic of Bulgaria permitto carry any amount without restriction. But if the amount exceeds 10,000 EUR passengers must declare them specifying the source of the income and the purpose the money will be spent for.It is documented in writing form indicating the vehicle number and the route of the trip.
What is the minimum wage in Bulgaria in dollars?
Bulgaria has a government-mandated minimum wage, and no worker can be paid less than the mandatory minimum rate of pay. As of April 2023, the minimum wage in Bulgaria is 780 BGN (USD 437) per month for full time employees (according to WageIndicator.org).
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided it is declared on arrival.
The Bulgarian lev is only used in Bulgaria.
Documents required to visit Bulgaria
U.S. citizens can travel to Bulgaria without a visa for up to 90 days per 180-day period.
Is it standard to tip in Bulgaria? Tipping is standard practice in Bulgaria and travelers should aim to tip around 10% of the total bill in a restaurant, provided the service has been up to scratch. Hotel staff are usually left around USD $1 per night for housekeeping and the same for the porters per bag.
Is It Cheaper To Exchange Money at the Bank or Airport? It is cheaper to exchange money at the bank (or by using an ATM) than the airport. That's because currency exchange stores and kiosks at the airports mark up the exchange rate to make a profit.
U.S. citizens traveling on regular tourist passports cannot stay more than a total of 90 days in Bulgaria within a 6 month-period without a Bulgarian visa. This law is strictly enforced.
Although American Express is available in Bulgaria, Visa, and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards.
Pay As You Go Roaming charges
Bulgaria is a Go Roam in Europe destination which means you can use your data here at no extra cost. If you have an Add-on with a data allowance of 12GB or greater, a fair use limit applies, with use over 12GB subject to a surcharge (see below).
