March 4, 2026 
6 mins to read Living in Sofia is very popular among young people. The city is amazing for a cheap life, but it’s much more than that. You can party at night, and recover in nature the day after. You can boost your career with a great job, and enjoy a great quality of life in and around the city.
In this blog we’ll zoom in on living in Sofia. We can tell you already that the costs of living are really low in this city, but how does that affect the quality of life? We focus on the costs of living in Sofia, the work and career opportunities and the quality of life in this city. We will also list a couple of downsides about living in Sofia. Maybe this blog will help you to decide if living and working in Sofia is the adventure you might want to go for next!
About Sofia
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. It is located in the western parts of the country, just below Vitosha Mountain. Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. The city has been influenced historically by the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Ottomans, but also the communist / socialist era has influenced the city deeply. The combination of all these things make Sofia an interesting and intriguing city to live in.
Top 3 things to see in Sofia
If you live in Sofia, there are certain things you just have to see. Most tourists will fit these highlights in a weekend or week during a visit, but you can really take your time to see and understand everything about the city’s highlights. Three tips:
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This huge cathedral was constructed between 1882 and 1912 to honor the Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), which led to Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule. It’s named after Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century Russian saint and military hero. At least one time visit on a Sunday morning during a service, so you can experience Orthodox chanting and liturgy.
- Vitosha Mountain
How cool is it to have a mountain rising just south of the city. On clear days, you can see it from almost anywhere in town. The highest peak (Cherni Vrah) has a height of 2,290 metres. The area also is Bulgaria’s oldest nature park. A great place to relax if you are overwhelmed by city life, and it’s just half an hour driving from Sofia.
- Serdica Archaeological Complex
This might be the highlight of the city that is less known than the other two we just listed. This site lets you walk through Sofia’s Roman past right in the heart of the city. It’s a unique way to experience history layered beneath modern streets. Some ruins are integrated into the metro station, so you can literally step onto Roman streets while commuting.
The weather in Sofia
If you start living and working in Sofia for a longer period of time, you will experience all the seasons there. So it’s good to know about the weather during the year in this city:
| Season | Average temperature | Pro’s | Tips |
| Spring | 10–20 °C | Blooming parks, great for hiking on Vitosha | Bring a light jacket and layers |
| Summer | 20–30 °C | Ideal period for sightseeing, outdoor cafes, and mountain trips | Always bring sunscreen and a hat, stay hydrated |
| Autumn | 10–20 °C early, 0–10 °C late | Go for walking tours and hikes and enjoy the colorful nature | Layers and a waterproof jacket |
| Winter | –2 to 5 °C | Skiing nearby, festive Christmas markets | Warm coat, boots, gloves, hat |
Quality of life in Sofia
There is more to living in Sofia, next to the things you can see and do. We give you more information about the quality of life in Sofia as we zoom in on some important factors.
Safety
It’s important to feel safe when you start living and working abroad. This is a daring step with lots of things that could feel scary. We would say that working abroad in most destinations is safe, as long as your preparation is good.
Sofia in particular is really safe for expats. Serious crimes against residents and foreigners are uncommon. The only thing you have to look out for is pickpocketing and scams, but that is something that happens in every bigger city.
Culture & social life
Sofia is a city with a rich history, which has created lots of cultural and social influences. The city has flourishing arts, theater, and music scenes, with galleries, classical performances, and pop-culture events on offer all year round. The social life in the city is focussed around cafés, bars, and restaurants. These places are popular for conversations, and for socialising with friends and coworkers.
The locals might feel a bit reserved when you just moved to Sofia. Small talks aren’t really common, like they might be in Western European cities. But take your time! Friendships usually deepen over time, and people are warm and loyal once you get to know them.
The Bulgarians also have a really interesting relationship with bread. Amanda, who moved to Sofia to start working abroad, found out about this herself.
Expat/international community
Many expats find their social circle in Sofia thanks to community groups, meetups, and online communities that host regular events. You can use a Facebook group to find expat communities in Sofia. There you can find people that are in the same situation as you, and who are also looking for making friends abroad.
Costs of living in Sofia
You know all about living in Sofia now, but it’s also important to know about the costs of living in this city. We give you the most important costs of living in this city:
| What | Costs |
| Rent | 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: €500-€700 a month 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: €380-€600 a month Room in a shared apartment: €180-€300 a month |
| Groceries | €100-€230 a month |
| Meal in a mid-range restaurant | €12-€30 |
| Coffee in a café | €1,25-€2 |
| Beer in a bar | €1,50-€3 |
| Gym membership | €25-€45 a month |
| Cinema ticket | €6-€8 |
Work & Career opportunities
Convinced about this amazing city? Job Squad can help you to find the perfect job abroad in Sofia. Find all our job offers in Sofia and start working in customer support or as a client advisor.
We do much more than just provide you with interesting job offers in Sofia. Once you contact us, one of our recruiters will become your guide into the world of working abroad. You will get help finding the right job that fits your experience, but also with preparing for the online interview and with relocating to your new country.
