Center
Walkable, close to the Sea Garden, shops and the beach.
city lifeno car
Coast and parks
Living in Burgas
A calmer seaside city with a long beach, a large sea park and easy access to the southern coast.
- 1-bed rent
- €405–515
- From Sofia
- About 4h by car, 1h by plane
- Airport
- Burgas (BOJ)
- Pace of life
- Quiet, busy in summer
Overview
Is Burgas right for you?
Burgas is the main city of the southern Black Sea coast. It is smaller and calmer than Varna, with a walkable centre, a long city beach and a large Sea Garden.
The city is surrounded by lakes, which are home to pelicans, flamingos and other birds, and by the old towns of Sozopol and Nessebar along the coast. Flat streets and cycle paths make it easy to get around without a car.
Burgas suits retirees and families who want a slower pace and lower costs. There are fewer jobs and services in English than in Sofia or Varna, and the airport has far fewer flights outside summer.
Summers are busy with tourists, and winters are mild but windy. Many expats live in the city all year, and others in the villages and seaside towns nearby.
What expats like
- A walkable centre next to the Sea Garden and the beach
- Lower costs than Sofia and Varna
- Sozopol, Nessebar and the southern coast close by
- An international airport
- Flat streets and cycle paths
What to know
- Fewer jobs and English-speaking services
- Busy in summer, quiet in winter
- Fewer flights outside the summer season
- Winters can be windy
Costs
What it costs to live here
Typical prices for one person, from current listings and Numbeo, checked in October 2026. Rents rise fast, so check imot.bg before you budget.
1-bed apartment, city centre
about €515 a month
1-bed apartment, outside the centre
about €405 a month
Utilities for a 2-bed flat (power, water, heating)
about €90 a month, more in winter
Public transport monthly card
about €31
Mobile plan with 10 GB+ data
about €13 a month
Home internet
about €11 a month
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant
about €12
Neighbourhoods
Where expats live in Burgas
Lazur
Near the sea and the centre, popular with families.
familiesbeach loversSarafovo
A seaside area near the airport, with houses and a village feel.
quiethousesSlaveykov
Residential, with parks and good value.
familiesvalueIzgrev
Residential, close to shopping centres and schools.
familiesvalueMeden Rudnik
A large residential district in the south with the lowest rents.
budgetGetting around
Do you need a car?
Walking and cycling
Flat streets and cycle paths make it easy to get around without a car.
Buses
City buses connect the districts, the airport and nearby seaside areas.
Taxis and apps
Cheap and easy to find. Use a licensed company or an app.
Driving
Useful for the southern coast, Strandzha and trips inland.
Living here
Everyday life in Burgas
Healthcare
- UMBAL BurgasState The main regional hospital
- Life HospitalPrivate A modern private hospital
- Deva Maria HospitalPrivate A private general hospital
Schools
- International schools None yet. Most expat children go to private bilingual or state schools
- Geo Milev English Language School State, English stream. One of Bulgaria’s best-known language schools, entry by exam
- Private bilingual schools Bulgarian and English. Ask other expat parents for current recommendations
Work
- Jobs The port, the refinery, tourism and a smaller IT scene
- Coworking A handful of spaces in the centre
- Remote work Popular with remote workers and retirees who want the sea and lower costs
Weekends
- Sozopol An old town on a peninsula with beaches, 35 minutes away
- Nessebar A UNESCO old town of churches and windmills, 35 minutes away
- The Burgas lakes Birdwatching at Poda and Atanasovsko lake, minutes from the centre
- Pomorie Salt lakes, mud baths and a monastery, 25 minutes away
- Strandzha Forests, villages and the wild southern coast, about 1 hour away
Paperwork
Where to sort your paperwork
Migration office (ODMVR Burgas)
Residence permits, EU registration certificates, LNCH
63 Perushtitsa St, Lazur · Check hours on mvr.bg
Good to know: Bring originals and copies of everything. Queues are longest early in the morning
KAT (traffic police)
Driving licence exchange, car registration
Burgas traffic police (ODMVR Burgas) · Check the address and hours on mvr.bg before you go
Good to know: Bring a sworn translation for non-EU licences
Burgas Municipality
Local documents, property tax and vehicle tax
Municipal service centre · Hours vary
Good to know: Many local taxes can be paid online
National Revenue Agency (NAP)
Tax registration, social security, health insurance status
Find your office at nra.bg · Many services work online with a PIK code
Good to know: Ask for a PIK code once: it saves many visits
Find help in Burgas
English-speaking professionals near you
Lawyers, accountants, doctors and agents who work with expats in Burgas, checked by our team.
What’s on near Burgas
Festivals, concerts, traditions and markets across Bulgaria, with what each one is about so you know what to expect.
See events in BurgasCompare
