Cost of living in United States compared to Bulgaria
Currency:
| Food | + 89% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in United States is 89% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $20 (39 лв) | 17 лв | + 134% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $12 (23 лв) | 16 лв | + 43% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $5.50 (10 лв) | 8 лв | + 39% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $1.06 (2.02 лв) | 3.37 лв | - 40% | |
| 12 eggs, large | $4.73 (9 лв) | 8 лв | + 18% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $4.39 (8 лв) | 4.10 лв | + 104% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $7 (13 лв) | 10 лв | + 30% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $3.90 (7 лв) | 2.86 лв | + 160% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.04 (3.88 лв) | 2.13 лв | + 82% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $3.81 (7 лв) | 2.09 лв | + 247% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $18 (34 лв) | 21 лв | + 63% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | $2.90 (5.52 лв) | 3.12 лв | + 77% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $2.63 (5.01 лв) | 1.08 лв | + 362% | |
| Housing | + 246% | |||
| Housing in United States is 246% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $2,813 (5,355 лв) | 1,464 лв | + 266% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $2,099 (3,997 лв) | 943 лв | + 324% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $222 (422 лв) | 235 лв | + 80% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $2,056 (3,915 лв) | 794 лв | + 393% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $1,494 (2,844 лв) | 713 лв | + 299% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $160 (305 лв) | 174 лв | + 75% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $59 (113 лв) | 19 лв | + 484% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | $257 (490 лв) | 583 лв | - 16% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $147 (280 лв) | 193 лв | + 45% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $14 (28 лв) | 25 лв | + 11% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | $33 (62 лв) | 27 лв | + 130% | |
| Clothes | + 23% | |||
| Clothes in United States is 23% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $56 (107 лв) | 110 лв | - 3% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $51 (97 лв) | 72 лв | + 35% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $106 (201 лв) | 190 лв | + 6% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $137 (261 лв) | 172 лв | + 52% | |
| Transportation | + 88% | |||
| Transportation in United States is 88% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $30,188 (57,469 лв) | 51,609 лв | + 11% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $0.93 (1.78 лв) | 2.65 лв | - 33% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | $79 (150 лв) | 47 лв | + 220% | |
| Personal Care | + 109% | |||
| Personal Care in United States is 109% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $9 (17 лв) | 13 лв | + 30% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $21 (41 лв) | 24 лв | + 74% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $168 (319 лв) | 98 лв | + 226% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $9 (17 лв) | 7 лв | + 153% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $5.34 (10 лв) | 5.90 лв | + 72% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $7 (13 лв) | 8 лв | + 60% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | $5.05 (10 лв) | 4.08 лв | + 135% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | $2.37 (4.50 лв) | 3.73 лв | + 21% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $30 (57 лв) | 25 лв | + 127% | |
| Entertainment | + 83% | |||
| Entertainment in United States is 83% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| United States | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $61 (117 лв) | 55 лв | + 112% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | $29 (56 лв) | 30 лв | + 84% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $207 (395 лв) | 50 лв | + 682% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $100 (190 лв) | 132 лв | + 44% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $15 (28 лв) | 14 лв | + 105% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $5.91 (11 лв) | 5.73 лв | + 96% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $7 (14 лв) | 5.04 лв | + 176% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $468 (891 лв) | 1,897 лв | - 53% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.54 (1.02 лв) | 0.33 лв | + 211% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | $65 (124 лв) | 68 лв | + 82% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $10 (20 лв) | 7 лв | + 167% | |
| TOTAL | + 117% | |||
These prices were last updated on January 17, 2025.
Exchange rate:
1.904
BGN
/
USD
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 17,280 prices entered by 2,133 different people.
Cost of living in United States is 117% more expensive than in Bulgaria
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