site.btaQ3 Monthly Cost of Living at BGN 1,454, 1.9% Up on Annual Basis

The net monthly income needed to support a working person in Bulgaria is BGN 1,454, according to the data for the third quarter of 2024, presented Thursday at a press conference by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Institute for Social and Trade Union Research, Education and Training (ISTURET).  

CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov reported a slight increase in monthly income needed, compared to the previous quarter. An increase of 0.1% was reported on a quarterly basis, and of 1.9% on an annual basis. The sum needed by a family of three, consisting of two adults and a child under 14, is BGN 2,616, the report shows. Compared to September last year, a family of three needs 48 BGN more and a working person - 27 BGN more. In two years, the needed amount has increased by 240 BGN for a household of three and by 134 BGN for a working person.  

A significant percentage of Bulgarians still receive up to BGN 1,000, Dimitrov further said. In his words, meaning that around 32% or 844,000 of Bulgarians can be defined as "working poor".

According to ISTURET Director Lyuboslav Kostov, the value of the so-called small consumer basket of 20 vital goods is rising by 2.2%. The previous quarter it went up around 4%, he specified. The rate of appreciation continues, but with less dynamics, the economist added. 

The CITUB compared prices in Bulgaria and in six other European countries, as some food items in Bulgaria turned out to be more expensive than in Spain, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Germany and Romania. ISTURET's Director gave the example of fresh milk, which is EUR 1.75 in Bulgaria and EUR 1.07 in Spain. Wheat flour type 500 in Bulgaria costs EUR 0.92, while in Spain it is EUR 0.71 and EUR 0.78 in Romania. 

The total value of the small consumer basket of 20 goods is EUR 57.32 in Bulgaria and EUR 41.54 in Romania. The comparison between the countries shows that Bulgarians earning minimum wage can buy the basket of basic products 8.3 times in a month - the least amount times compared to the other countries, the CITUB also reported. 

The Confederation also noted that the minimum wage should be commensurate with the “living wage”, for which a definition needs to be adopted.