What if you were born in Bulgaria?

If you had grown up in Bulgaria instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Sofia could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Varosha quarter of Veliko Tarnovo. Photo: Plamen Agov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Bulgaria

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in EUR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Bulgaria: EUR 1,370Rs 419,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 396
Transport (public transport): EUR 70
Food: EUR 198
Saved: EUR 206

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Bulgaria: EUR 3,150Rs 963,000
Rent (suburbs): EUR 803
Transport (public transport): EUR 161
Food: EUR 535
Saved: EUR 472

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Bulgaria: EUR 5,100Rs 1,560,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 1,250
Transport (car): EUR 478
Food: EUR 625
Saved: EUR 1,430

Try it with my own income

A day in Sofia

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Sofia, a city of snowy winters around -2°C and cool summers around 21°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Bulgarian at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be shopska salad: tomato, cucumber, pepper and grated white cheese.
Evening
You get home with EUR 472 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains, and skiing in winter.

Bulgaria compared with Pakistan

	Bulgaria	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.0× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	76 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	20 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	3.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	10°C	26°C
Languages	Bulgarian	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	EUR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Bulgaria, living in Bulgaria and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Bulgaria?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around EUR 3,150 a month at the same level in Bulgaria (about Rs 963,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Bulgaria more expensive than Pakistan?

Everyday prices are about the same as in Pakistan or lower, according to World Bank price levels.

What language would I speak in Bulgaria?

Mainly Bulgarian. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Bulgaria?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Bulgaria page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.