Living in Bulgaria and Setting Up House

Whether it’s the bustling city life found in Sofia or enjoyed in Varna or the quaint resort feel of Bansko that appeals to you, Bulgaria has a lot of different lifestyles to offer expatriates who move here.  Whilst buying property in Bulgaria is sometimes a bit of a challenge, setting up a household isn’t as difficult especially if you prefer to live in or near one of the larger towns or cities.

In this article we’ll look at living in Bulgaria and setting up house and the options for setting up a household in Bulgaria.  From buying furniture and crockery to stocking the shelves with groceries, things are a little different in Bulgaria to that which you may be used, but not that much!

Before you even begin to pick up sticks for a move to Bulgaria, it is a very good idea to weed through your belongings to keep the shipping charges as low as possible.  If you’re coming from the UK for example, the fees for removal can add up quite quickly.  Set your sights on purchasing new or used larger possessions once you arrive to keep costs down.  Whilst you won’t find an Ikea to make fully furnishing a home a one-stop breeze yet, there are some other comparable choices.

What expatriates are soon to find out when living in Bulgaria is that a number of companies have cropped up to cater to them specifically.  This is excellent news for expats and holiday homebuyers who simply do not want to spend a lot of time on the effort of furnishing their new property in Bulgaria.  Supplying just about everything you might need to furnish a home in Bulgaria, many of these stores even have online portals.  Some of these outlets offer everything from appliances and kitchen furniture to bedroom suites and full packs to cover other essentials such as flatware, pots and pans, linens and crockery.  A few companies even provide free delivery in such areas as Sunny Beach and Varna.

If shopping for furniture and crockery online doesn’t appeal, expats in Bulgaria will find a number of stores in the bigger cities.  Hands-on selections are more than possible.  Granted, delivery might not be free in smaller retail outlets, but browsing stores in Sofia might net some excellent savings on furniture for example.

To make a house a home one needs more than furniture and crockery.  Since many say the true heart of any home is its kitchen, food is an absolute must of course!  Shopping for groceries in Bulgaria has become almost a Western European experience – at least in the more populated areas.  Grocery chains like Piccadilly and Billa are found within the country.  Smaller stores, vendors and speciality shops are also available.  New arrivals might just have to ask around and keep their eyes open to find them.

As Bulgaria becomes a big hit for holidaymakers and expats alike, setting up a home with a comfortable feel when living in Bulgaria is not at all impossible.  It seems that companies are flocking to Bulgaria to meet the needs of the ever-expanding holiday and relocation market and I’m sure it won’t be long before there is an Ikea on the horizon!