Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Bulgaria Expat Forum

best place to move to

New Topic Newest First
hadadrink
  4/23/2019 09:12 EST

we have a plan to buy a place , not sure which is the best place to go to,
looking for sun and beach,
any places which are better us brits

Mogilamo
  4/26/2019 09:53 EST

Bulgaria is a beautiful country , has a lot to offer and give, but be prepared for a massive culture shock. We have been there since 2009 , recently only part time, now.
We chose the south east, better climate,close to Turkey, great to visit , beaches, and airport one hour away. Very fertile soil grow nearly everything. Cost of living more than reasonable.
I could go on forever. But please bear in mind Bulgaria is not for everyone, research, research and research,. My advice before you make any commitments, rent some were and live for a few months , get a feel for the country .
Wishing you good luck

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

WBhops
  4/26/2019 11:38 EST

Mogilamo- how about giving us exhibit A on the culture shock?

This will give those of us who haven’t made the move a bit of insight.

Mogilamo
  4/26/2019 12:24 EST

Wow, were do I start,
Ok here we go
Firstly beurocrocy, in the West we take things for granted, every day things, such as purchasing, property, vehicles, reregestering vehicles. Opening accounts for utilities,
In the West these things take little time and effort to achieve. Here in Bg these tasks are monumental, but achievable. Not without a translater.
Pot holes roads, maniac drivers. Corrupt officials, including police officers, corrupt rip off tradesmen. People generally trying to rip you off. Being promised one thing, getting something totally different. Every one thinks you are an idiot, because you can't speak the local language, and they know better than you do!! Then the biggy, the language barrier. Remember it is a totally different country, which is In my estimation at least 50/60 years behind the rest of Europe. Including the way people think over here.
The old saying, you can take the boy out of the village, but you can't take the village out of the boy. All these things I say from personal experience.
Having said all that, we have fibre optic Internet recently installed, domestic phones are 3g,
Then the general Bulgarian culture is so different.
There is always some kind of festivals of all kinds of different nature taking place throughout the year.
If one can adapt to living here, one can gave a very enjoyable life here.
We personally love it here, as do many other expats.
I imagine it is the same when you try some thing totally new to yourself.
You need to have your eyes wide Open, and a little grasp of the language, and alphabet.
Definitely not for the faint hearted.
One example, I can reregister a vehicle in the UK in twelve days by post, here it can takes all day. I hope this is helpful.
I don't intend to frighten any one. Every thing is doable. Wishing you well

WBhops
  4/26/2019 14:38 EST

That’s great information. Thanks for sharing. I can imagine how frustrating that is.

How much better would it be if you had a Bulgarian national helping you negotiate these situations?

Mogilamo
  4/26/2019 14:53 EST

As I said earlier I am fortunate to have a good grasp of the language, and fortunately I have made a lot of very good friends there, who look after my affairs, and house there, when ever I run in to a brick wall. I have the resources available. To me. For that I'm very grateful. Horses for courses, and all that. Giving more than you recieve. I must admit I have been very fortunate with the friends I have made over there. I am in the UK at the moment, I recieved a call today to say that the house is all OK, my friend accompanied the security company on their visit to the property.
As I said earlier try before you buy. Take care

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

Mogilamo
  4/26/2019 14:56 EST

Apologies, forgot to say if you have Bulgarian national in your side, life becomes do eeeaaasssyyy

Griff4
  5/1/2019 06:04 EST

Well said Mogilamo, my better half is a Bulgarian but even then it took half a day registering our first car.
Once you know the ropes and are lucky with the queues at KAT you can get this down to about 2 hours. Corruption was rife in Bulgaria during communism and even afterwards. Nowadays it's more used as a shortcut through the bureaucracy avoiding having to complete the necessary documentation. Although there are still corrupt employees in municipalities, border crossing and the police that I know of through personal experience and friends' experiences.
As to where to look; it's really down to personal choice. I can't say too much about the north coast as I live south of Burgas but there's a variety of towns and villages to choose from. Some with beautiful beaches, some with a more rocky shoreline. You really do need to explore the area yourself, decide whether you wish to live on the coast or in a village more inland. We found a villa for rent for the summer for only 1200lv / month. A few months here and you'd get a feel for the place and be able to decide whether it's for you and if so where.

Kandi
  5/1/2019 18:41 EST

Your information about Bulgaria is exactly the same for people moving to Bali, Cambodia or most countries foreign to them. It is a shame, but seems the be the way of the world. However surely there are some good stories of living in Bulgaria? I am planning to live there and rent for one year to see if it is where I want to be.
Any good stories of expats moving to Bulgaria.....

WBhops
  5/1/2019 20:23 EST

Go to the BG groups on Facebook. They are much more positive on that forum. Lots of negative turkeys on here.

Search ‘Expats in Bulgaria’ on FB. Really great information on there and regularly updated.

Cheers b

Kandi
  5/8/2019 18:40 EST

Thank you, which FB page is best for positive and informative information about living in Bulgaria for a retired British expat? I only want to rent and see the place. Hope to move in September or March. Any ideas?

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

WBhops
  5/8/2019 19:58 EST

Expats in Bulgaria
Houses 4 sale in Bulgaria

Heavily British-centric. You’ll be in good company.

Have fun. Report back.

Kandi
  5/13/2019 19:24 EST

Have you found the best place to live yet?

Topdog72
  6/3/2019 02:52 EST

Hi, I was was looking for a house for about £10,000 is it possible to get a decent house in a safe area? I'm not too fussy but want a safe area any ideas?

Joshuak
  6/9/2019 15:51 EST

10,000 pounds ! you must be dreaming.

Topdog72
  6/9/2019 16:05 EST

Not really there's lots of properties for that price range. I seen loads from about £2000 upwards, I know the cheap ones need renovating

jerrykaren
  6/10/2019 01:31 EST

Hi
Which area in BG are you looking at
I have a 95% renovated house which have just put on sale with an agent 45 kms from vt
If interested please feel free to message me
Many thanks

Joshuak
  6/10/2019 10:26 EST

You used the word "Decent" for 10 K. Again - dreaming.

Topdog72
  6/10/2019 11:15 EST

Hi could you send me a link of your house for sale. Thanks

jerrykaren
  6/12/2019 03:10 EST

hi
pm sent
with details
regards

Joshuak
  6/12/2019 22:26 EST

Sorry JerryKaren, you sent the private message to the wrong person. I am not looking for a cheap house. I believe "Topdog72" is the one looking.

jerrykaren
  6/24/2019 04:21 EST

hi
thanks for pms
but im sorry i dont think you have a chance of getting a house on or near the beach for
£10.000 you may be able to get a very small apartment in a complex nr sunny beach
good luck with your search

billyboy62bg
  8/25/2019 16:11 EST

bought in march 2019 place 15 km from burgas nice quiet village 13000 euro ok it needed lot o renovation but im quite experienced in building work so no prob you can get cheap property but be prepaired to fix up
any help ya need happy to help if you need frm advice to buying and all else my gf is advocat [lawyer] was a enormous help in everything I needed to do

billyboy62bg
  8/25/2019 16:13 EST

bought in march 2019 place 15 km from burgas nice quiet village 13000 euro ok it needed lot o renovation but im quite experienced in building work so no prob you can get cheap property but be prepaired to fix up
any help ya need happy to help if you need frm advice to buying and all else my gf is advocat [lawyer] was a enormous help in everything I needed to do

Jingogunner
  6/13/2020 09:46 EST

Well you've frightened me.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Bulgaria GuideLiving in Bulgaria Guide

Expats living in Bulgaria can have all kinds of experiences while living abroad there. The capital city of Sofia offers a much different experience compared to what expats will experience in a Bulgarian village.

Bulgaria Forum Bulgaria Forum
Join our Bulgaria forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Bulgaria.

Contribute to Bulgaria Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Bulgaria.

Best Places to Live in Bulgaria Best Places to Live in Bulgaria

If you're dreaming about living in Bulgaria, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Bulgaria in 2023.

Expat Healthcare Advice in Bulgaria61 Expats Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in Bulgaria

Expats living in Bulgaria talk about their own experiences with healthcare, hospital visits, emergencies, finding a doctor, buying health insurance in Bulgaria and more.

Cost of Living in BulgariaCost of Living in Bulgaria

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Bulgaria.

Moving to BulgariaMoving to Bulgaria Guide

Expats who move to Bulgaria have a wide variety of options to choose from in terms of where to live. Whether you want to live off the grid, in the mountains, or by the sea, it's all there to be had as long as you do the appropriate research and understand some of the unique aspects of successfully moving to Bulgaria.

Real Estate in BulgariaReal Estate in Bulgaria

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Bulgaria.

Pros Cons of Living in BulgariaPros & Cons of Living in Bulgaria

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Bulgaria.

Retiring in BulgariaRetiring in Bulgaria

Advice for people retiring in Bulgaria.

10 Tips for Living in Bulgaria10 Tips for Living in Bulgaria

If you've recently arrived in Bulgaria, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Bulgaria.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute to Bulgaria Network Contribute
Help others in Bulgaria by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Bulgaria.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal