Europe · 2 cities on Nomada
Digital nomad guide to Bulgaria
Updated May 2026
Mid-tier monthly
$1,270–$1,270
median $1,270
Best for: Bargain Schengen base, especially Sofia and Plovdiv.
Bulgaria joined Schengen in 2024 and overnight became one of the cheapest Schengen options — Sofia is roughly half the cost of Lisbon for a comparable lifestyle. There's no formal DNV; long-stay needs the D-visa and one of the residency categories (employed, self-employed, retiree). Plovdiv is the dark-horse city with a stronger café and culture density per capita than Sofia.
Visa story
Schengen as of 2024; long-stay D-visa for residency, no formal DNV.
Open the per-city visa cards on each city page for the specific income tests, durations, and program names. None of this is legal advice — confirm with the consulate before booking.
2 cities on Nomada
Sorted by monthly cost · cheapest first
Best months across Bulgaria
Months where the country’s averages cluster within nomad-comfortable temp, humidity, and rainfall ranges.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Other Europe bases
Build your stack for Bulgaria
- Travel insuranceLong-term, nomad-friendly cover that follows you across Bulgaria
- Multi-currency bankingAvoid the 4% conversion fees foreign cards rack up across Bulgaria
- eSIM data planDay-one connectivity in Bulgaria without local-SIM friction
- Coworking & colivingDay passes, monthly memberships, and verified workspaces in Bulgaria
- Visa conciergesFiling help and concierge services for Bulgaria residency paths
- Flight dealsCheapest routes in and out of Bulgaria