Cost of Living Comparison for British Expats: Sofia (Bulgaria) vs Barcelona and Malaga (Spain)
Table of Contents
For British expats moving to Spain or moving to Bulgaria, the cost of living is a major consideration. Both Bulgaria and Spain offer a lower cost of living than the UK on average. Still, there are significant differences between settling in Sofia versus Spain’s popular cities like Barcelona and Malaga. This detailed comparison breaks down typical monthly expenses – from housing and utilities to food, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment – to help retirees and remote workers budget for a new life abroad. We’ve included example prices (in local currency) from authoritative sources such as Numbeo and Expatistan to illustrate the differences. Read on for a side-by-side look at living costs in Sofia, Barcelona, and Malaga, complete with tables and tips for expat life.
Housing Costs: Sofia vs Barcelona vs Malaga
Rent: Housing will likely be the largest expense in your monthly budget, and here, Sofia has a clear advantage. A one-bedroom apartment in Sofia’s city centre costs around 1,125 лв per month on average (approximately £500), whereas in Barcelona you’d pay about €1,322 for a comparable city-centre one-bed. Malaga is a bit more affordable than Barcelona, but still about €944 for a one-bed in the centre. Apartments outside the city center are cheaper in all cases, but Sofia remains the most budget-friendly. For example, a one-bedroom outside central Sofia is ~854 лв (≈£380), compared to €1,034 in Barcelona’s outskirts and €761 in suburban Malaga. In other words, rent in Sofia can be less than half the cost of Barcelona. Retirees on a fixed income will find their pounds stretch much further in Bulgaria when it comes to housing.
Utilities: Utility bills (electricity, heating, water, garbage) for an apartment can vary with usage and climate. Sofia’s cold winters mean higher heating costs, so a larger 85 m² family flat might incur around 279 лв per month in utilities (approximately €140). In Barcelona, the equivalent is about €142 and in Malaga, roughly €125 for a similar-sized flat. For a smaller single household (e.g. 45 m² flat), Sofia’s utilities average about 160 лв (≈€82), versus €91 in Barcelona and €85 in Malaga. Despite Bulgaria’s cheaper electricity per unit, the overall utility costs end up similar to Spain for larger spaces due to higher heating needs. However, smaller apartments in Sofia still enjoy low running costs.
Internet: One pleasant surprise is the cost of high-speed internet. Bulgaria has one of the cheapest broadband prices in Europe – a monthly broadband package in Sofia costs around 17 лв (under £8). In Spain, internet is pricier: about €30 in Barcelona and €22 in Malaga per month for a similar service. Remote workers will appreciate Sofia’s combination of low cost and fast speeds when working from home.
| Housing/Utilities Expense | Sofia (BGN) | Barcelona (EUR) | Malaga (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bedroom apartment (city centre) | 1,125 лв | €1,322 | €944 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom apartment (outside centre) | 854 лв | €1,034 | €761 |
| Utilities (monthly for 85 m² flat, two people) | 279 лв (≈€142) | €142 | €125 |
| Internet (broadband, monthly) | 17 лв | €30 | €22 |
Food and Grocery Prices
Groceries: Day-to-day grocery shopping is where Bulgaria truly shines for budget-conscious expats. Basic staples cost considerably less in Sofia than in Spain. For instance, a loaf of fresh bread is only about 1.04 лв (around £0.45) in Sofia, whereas in Barcelona it’s roughly €1.19 and in Malaga about €1.08. Milk runs about 3.37 лв per liter in Sofia (≈£1.30), compared to €1.06 in Barcelona and €1.03 in Malaga. A dozen eggs cost 8 лв in Sofia (~£3.50), nearly double the price in Spain (€3.19 in Barcelona, €2.95 in Malaga). Meat and produce are also cheaper overall in Bulgaria: 1 kg of tomatoes is ~4.27 лв (≈€2.18) in Sofia, similar to Spanish prices, but chicken fillets are slightly more expensive in Sofia (~9 лв per 500g) than the equivalent €4.31 in Barcelona or €3.80 in Malaga for 500g. This may be due to Bulgaria importing some meat products. Nonetheless, most other food items – from local cheese to fruits and vegetables – tend to be significantly cheaper in Sofia. Overall, a monthly groceries bill for a single person might be around £100-£150 in Sofia, versus £200 or more in a city like Barcelona, depending on eating habits.
Eating Out: If you enjoy dining in restaurants or grabbing a beer, you’ll find your money goes further in Sofia. A basic lunchtime menu in a business district restaurant (often a two-course meal with a drink) is about 18 лв in Sofia (~£8), compared to roughly €19 in Barcelona and €17 in Malaga for a similar meal. Even fast food is cheaper in Bulgaria – a McDonald’s combo meal costs around 16 лв (≈£7) in Sofia, while in Spain it’s about €11. Going out for dinner is where Sofia really pulls ahead: a basic dinner for two at a pub is ~54 лв (£24) in Sofia, versus €40 (~£35) in Barcelona. A beer in a neighborhood pub costs only 4.27 лв (≈£1.90) in Sofia, whereas you’d pay around €7 (£6+) in Barcelona’s pubs (Malaga is cheaper than Barcelona for beer, about €4.50 at a pub, but still double Sofia’s price). A cappuccino in a cafe is ~5.15 лв (€2.64) in Sofia, compared to €3.65 in Barcelona and ~€3.08 in Malaga. These differences add up – retirees can treat themselves to more meals out, and remote workers can enjoy daily coffees without breaking the bank in Bulgaria.
| Grocery Item | Sofia (BGN) | Barcelona (EUR) | Malaga (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | 3.37 лв | €1.06 | €1.03 |
| Bread (fresh white loaf) | 1.04 лв | €1.19 | €1.08 |
| Eggs (12 large) | 8.00 лв | €3.19 | €2.95 |
| Chicken breast (500g) | 9.00 лв | €4.31 | €3.80 |
Transportation Costs
Public transport: All three cities have good public transportation networks, but Sofia’s is the cheapest by far. A monthly public transport pass in Sofia is about 45 лв (≈£20). In Barcelona, a monthly transit pass costs roughly €30 (about £26), and in Malaga around €28. Single ticket prices are also affordable (around 1.60 лв in Sofia vs €2+ in Spain), but regular commuters will benefit from the low-cost monthly pass in Sofia. Taxis are another example: an 8 km (5-mile) taxi ride in Sofia costs about 14 лв (~£6), whereas the same ride would be approximately €17 (~£15) in Barcelona and €22 in Malaga. Ridesharing apps are available in all cities, but in Bulgaria, even a traditional taxi is very inexpensive – great for retirees who might prefer door-to-door transport on occasion.
Car ownership: If you plan to drive, note that fuel prices are slightly lower in Bulgaria. Petrol (gasoline) is about 2.64 лв per litre in Sofia (≈£1.15), compared to around €1.60 (≈£1.40) in Malaga and €1.63 in Barcelona. Buying a car is a major expense everywhere, but brand new vehicles cost roughly the same across Europe. For example, a new Volkswagen Golf is about 50,000 лв in Bulgaria (≈€25,600), which is comparable to €25,300 in Malaga or €28,000 in Barcelona for the same model. Many expats in Barcelona don’t bother with a car thanks to excellent public transit, whereas in Sofia and Malaga, a car can be handy for exploring beyond the city. Keep in mind that car insurance and road taxes will also vary, but those tend to be lower in Bulgaria due to lower average wages and costs.
| Transport Expense | Sofia (BGN) | Barcelona (EUR) | Malaga (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly public transport pass | 45 лв | €30 | €28 |
| Petrol (1 L) | 2.64 лв | €1.63 | €1.60 |
| Taxi ride (8 km) | 14 лв | €17 | €22 |
Healthcare and Insurance
Healthcare systems: The approach to healthcare is quite different between Spain and Bulgaria, which is an important factor for retirees, especially. Spain has a high-quality, universal public healthcare system. If you become a resident in Spain, you can typically access public healthcare at low cost or even free of charge (funded through social security taxes). In fact, UK retirees living in Spain can use an S1 form to transfer their NHS entitlement, allowing them to receive Spanish public healthcare as pensioners. This means that in Barcelona or Malaga, many expats have minimal out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for GP visits or hospital care. In Bulgaria, there is also a public healthcare system funded by mandatory contributions (about 8% of income), but the public hospitals and clinics are less resourced than Spain’s. Many expats in Bulgaria opt for private health insurance or pay out-of-pocket for private care, which is still relatively cheap by UK standards.
Medical costs: For routine medical needs, Bulgaria’s private healthcare is affordable. A short private doctor’s consultation in Sofia costs around 74 лв (approximately €38). In comparison, a private doctor visit in Barcelona might cost about €63, while in Malaga it’s roughly €37 (Malaga’s lower cost reflects that outside major cities, private fees can be cheaper). Prescription medications are inexpensive in both countries – for example, a course of antibiotics in Sofia is ~24 лв (£10), not far off Spanish prices (~€9 in Barcelona). If you prefer private health insurance, expect to pay €50-100 per month in Spain for a comprehensive expat plan (more if you are older or want top-tier coverage). In Bulgaria, private insurance can be lower (several hundred euros per year), but many expats simply pay per visit given the low costs. Importantly, emergency care in both countries is available to everyone: Spain’s public emergency services are excellent, and Bulgaria’s emergency care is free but may have limited facilities.
| Healthcare Expense | Sofia | Barcelona | Malaga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private doctor visit (15 minutes) | 74 лв (≈€38) | €63 | €37 |
Entertainment and Leisure
Leisure activities: In all cities, retirees and remote workers will want to enjoy their free time. Fortunately, many leisure activities in Bulgaria are extremely budget-friendly. Going to the cinema in Sofia costs about 26 лв for two tickets (≈£11 for two), while in Barcelona it’s around €18 for two tickets (about £15). A gym membership in Sofia is ~62 лв per month (≈£27), roughly half the price of a typical gym in Barcelona (€62 per month). Popular pastimes like theatre and concerts also tend to be cheaper in Sofia; two good seats at the theatre cost ~54 лв (£24), compared to about €44 (£38) in Barcelona. If you enjoy socialising, Bulgaria’s low prices make nights out very affordable – you can find a pint of local beer for the equivalent of €1-2 in Sofia’s pubs, whereas in Spain, imported beers or craft ales can cost €4-5 or more. Even cocktail prices show a gap: ~13 лв for a cocktail in a Sofia club (≈£5) vs about €10-12 in a trendy Barcelona bar.
Travel and extras: One reason many Brits love Spain is the travel opportunities – cheap flights within Europe and a vast network of trains and buses to explore the country. Spain’s intercity train and bus fares are reasonable (e.g. ~€102 for a fast train across the country), and budget airlines make weekend trips feasible. Bulgaria, being smaller and farther east, has fewer low-cost flight connections, but travelling domestically or to nearby countries (Greece, Turkey, etc.) is very cheap by bus or train. A bus from Sofia to the Black Sea coast, for instance, can be under £15. Entertainment and leisure budgets will depend on your lifestyle, but overall, an expat in Sofia can indulge more frequently for the same cost that a similar lifestyle would require in Spain.
Summary: Which Location Offers a Better Value?
In summary, Sofia, Bulgaria, offers a significantly lower cost of living than Barcelona or Malaga, Spain, in almost every category. Housing is dramatically cheaper – rent in Sofia can be 50-60% lower than in Barcelona for comparable apartments. Day-to-day expenses like groceries, dining out, and local transportation are also much lighter on the wallet in Sofia. A British pension or remote salary will stretch far in Bulgaria, allowing for savings or a higher standard of living on the same budget. Spain (especially Barcelona) will require a larger budget, but it comes with other benefits like a highly developed infrastructure, an established expat community, and arguably easier integration (language, international schools, etc.). Malaga, being cheaper than Barcelona, strikes a middle ground – it offers the warm climate and healthcare quality of Spain at a lower cost than Barcelona, though still not as low as Sofia.
For retirees, healthcare may tilt the decision in favour of Spain despite the higher cost of living, as public healthcare in Spain is excellent and largely free at the point of use. For remote workers or younger expats without heavy medical needs, Bulgaria’s ultra-low prices on rent, food, and internet are very attractive. Ultimately, the “better value” depends on your priorities: if your goal is to minimize expenses, Bulgaria wins hands down; if you value a Western European lifestyle and don’t mind paying a premium for it, Spain is still relatively affordable compared to the UK (indeed, cost of living in Spain is ~30% lower than in the UK on average).
Whichever you choose, careful budgeting is key. We hope this comparison helps paint a clear picture of what to expect when moving to Bulgaria or moving to Spain. Both destinations are popular with British expats for good reason – a sunnier climate and lower costs than back home. If you are planning your move, remember that understanding living costs is just as important as finding the right international removals service. With the information above, you can better plan your new life in Sofia, Barcelona, or Malaga, and make the most of your retirement or remote work abroad.
Sources: Cost of living data sourced from Numbeo and Expatistan (April 2025) for accuracy. Additional insights on healthcare and expenses are drawn from expat guides and official statistics.
