Buying a home in Bulgaria: what it really costs
- Can foreigners buy?
- Yes, buildings and apartments, with rights similar to locals; per GPG, foreigners can't own land directly, so a Bulgarian company is the usual route.
- Costs on top of the price
- 3.2-8.5% · Transfer tax 0.1-3% (municipal; Sofia 2.5%) + notary 0.1-1.5% + legal 0.5-1% + agent 2.5-3%.
- Yearly property tax
- 0.01-0.45% of the property's tax value plus a municipal garbage fee.
- Tax on rental income
- Non-residents: 10% final tax on gross rent, paid quarterly, no deductions.
- What holiday rentals earn
- No sourced STR gross yield found.
- Long-term rent yield
- 3.8-4.7 (GPG Q3 2026: Burgas 4.72, Varna 4.29, Sofia 3.84, national 4.27)% gross
- Holiday-rental rules
- Tourist accommodation must be categorised or registered with the municipality under the Tourism Act; tourist tax BGN 0.20-3.00 per night.
Sources