Cost of your holiday in Bulgaria
Bulgaria remains a popular choice for a value-for-money beach holiday, especially compared to many Western European destinations. However, prices change every season and can vary significantly by resort, restaurant type, and travel style.
Editor’s note: This page was reviewed and updated in January 2026. Bulgaria adopted the euro (€) on 1 January 2026. Current guidance and external price benchmarks are shown at the top. Older tables and screenshots are preserved below for archive purposes only.
Sunny Beach and “best value” rankings
Sunny Beach has frequently appeared as a strong-value destination in international “holiday costs” comparisons, but rankings can change from year to year. For example, the UK Post Office’s barometer-style reports have listed Sunny Beach among the cheaper destinations in recent years, while also noting rising costs compared to earlier periods.
- In a 2024 Post Office comparison, Sunny Beach was listed at £62.49 for the “basket of holiday items” used in that report (with costs described as up year-on-year).
- In the Post Office Family Holiday Report 2025, Sunny Beach was reported as the second cheapest destination in that report’s ranking.
Note: These comparisons use a specific “basket” of tourist items (e.g., meals, drinks and a few essentials) and are most useful as a broad benchmark rather than a guarantee of what you will personally spend.
Currency in Bulgaria (important update)
As of 1 January 2026, Bulgaria uses the Euro (€) as its official currency. You no longer need to exchange into Bulgarian Lev (BGN) for day-to-day spending.
For historical reference, Bulgaria’s changeover used the fixed conversion rate:
1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN
How to keep this page accurate over time
Because local prices change often, we recommend using reliable, regularly updated sources for trip budgeting and treating any older tables/screenshots as historical examples only.
Useful links (benchmark reports and official sources):
- Post Office Holiday Money Report (annual worldwide barometer-style report)
- Post Office Family Holiday Report (resort-focused comparisons)
- Official euro adoption information (Bulgaria)
Typical Holiday Prices in Bulgaria (2026) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Bulgaria (low → average) | Sunny Beach (low → average) |
| Beer (bottle 0.5L – bar/restaurant) | € 1.20 – € 2.20 | € 1.50 – € 3.00 |
| Soft drink (Coke/Pepsi 0.33L – café) | € 0.80 – € 1.40 | € 1.00 – € 2.00 |
| Meal – inexpensive restaurant | € 6 – € 12 | € 9 – € 15 |
| Meal for two – mid-range restaurant | € 25 – € 40 | € 30 – € 45 |
| Taxi (start + per km) | € 1.00 + € 0.55/km | € 1.20 + € 0.65/km |
Alcohol – Typical Prices |
||
| Vodka / Gin 5cl (local brand) | € 1.20 – € 2.00 | € 1.50 – € 2.80 |
| Vodka / Gin bottle 0.7–0.75L (local) | € 6 – € 10 | € 7 – € 12 |
Bulgaria Price Guide (selected supermarket staples, 2026)
| Item | Typical price (€) |
|---|---|
| Fresh white bread (500g loaf) | € 0.96 |
| Onions (1 kg) | € 0.91 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | € 0.96 |
| Apples (1 kg) | € 1.52 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | € 1.58 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | € 2.22 |
| Milk (1 litre) | € 1.59 |
| Eggs (12) | € 2.96 |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | € 7.00 |
| Beef (1 kg) | € 11.10 |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | € 0.62 |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | € 6.14 |
Last update of prices: January 2026
💡 How to keep prices low during your holiday in Bulgaria
- Shop at Lidl, Kaufland or Billa for groceries, water, beer and breakfast items – own-brand products are excellent value.
- Eat where locals eat: small family restaurants and taverns just one street away from the promenade are usually much cheaper.
- Avoid beachfront menus for daily meals – prices rise mainly for the view, not the food.
- Use taxis or public transport for short trips instead of renting a car every day.
- Travel in May, June or September for the best balance between weather, prices and crowds.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bulgaria still a cheap holiday destination in 2026?
Yes. While prices have increased slightly in recent years, Bulgaria remains one of the more affordable holiday destinations in Europe, especially for accommodation, eating out, groceries, and local transport. Travelers who shop in supermarkets like Lidl or eat in local restaurants can keep costs very low.
Is Sunny Beach expensive?
Sunny Beach offers a wide range of prices. Beachfront bars, clubs and restaurants are more expensive, but just one or two streets away you can find very reasonable prices. Overall, Sunny Beach is still cheaper than most Mediterranean resorts.
Can I holiday cheaply in Bulgaria with a family?
Yes. Bulgaria is particularly suitable for family holidays thanks to affordable villas, low supermarket prices, reasonably priced restaurants, and good-value attractions such as water parks.
Book your holiday villa in Bulgaria
Archive (historical content)
The information below is preserved for historical reference only. The figures, screenshots, exchange-rate notes, and tables reflect older sources (2018–2019) and are not valid for current trip budgeting.
Bulgaria is a cheap holiday destination, with low-cost accommodation and with cheaper prices of goods and services.
!!!Sunny Beach, Bulgaria tops the worldwide chart for the first time
Strongest purchasing power on arrival. The price of a standard basket of goods inc beers, water and meals, which costs £ 106.45 in Nice (France), compiled recently by the Post Office (using today’s exchange rates), in various countries was:
Average price comparisment of a basket of holiday goods
Below is comparison of 12 holiday countries in Europe.
What basket of goods costs in…
Source: Post Office (2018)
Holiday basket includes: eight tourist items – comprising dinner for two with wine, a range of drinks, suncream and insect repellent
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