It depends where you want to live. Plovdiv is a very cosmopolitan city with great internet connectivity (or so I've heard). It may be worth doing some research! Our internet is great here but we do sometimes get power cuts.

@@the_phoenixproject of course but like you i want to live in rural bulgaria not to sure where yet. Im still doing my research i have visited and traveled around most of bulgaria including plovdith however u spell it i went to rhe collesium also. Do u get unlimited bandwidth? I mean of course rural bulgaria wont have fibre optic. Would u be able to do a video on internet please talk about your internet. What u have etc please and any restricfions etc. I understand its alot of work makin videos i am a youtube myself. But i believe it would be a good video and im sure many people would be interested . But thank you for your reply. I have tried to do some research even going to forums but sadly its all in bulgarian lol and the few english ones i have found unfortunately dont have any real answers but thanks again

Absolutely. So many people move out here without a job and they suffer the consequences.

My suggestion is to go with a reputable agent, because although you can find some bargains online, there are too many risks. This is why we send our followers to Bulgarian Property Experts because we know we can trust them. Maybe take a look on their website? www.bulgarianpropertyexperts.com

Thank you!! Yes, you are right. We love it here and we are trying to trust/enjoy the process 💞☺️

Meat and fish are quite expensive here but perhaps you may find a deal in the small villages at the market. We eat a lot of rice, beans, and vegetables so it's very cheap for us!

Love this comment. Yes, you are right! I have no idea what we would call lutenitsa in English haha! Maybe vegetable sauce??

@@the_phoenixproject yeah sauce would make sense. Not far from pasta sauces. In fact my daughter loves pasta with lutenitsa, grated mozzarella and herbs xD Even my Welsh wife loves our food :) Too bad you're vegetarian( or vegan in your case) otherwise you would've loved our food even more. Thinking about Каварма, сач, мешана скара, pork chops and all sort of things... We have been thinking about going back since 2022 but I hate my hometown (Sofia). Just England is getting so bad and demand to work any given hours under the sun just to live comfortably and miss your children childhood is really bad. There is no live/work balance in the UK anymore. Slaving 5-6 days a week from early mornings to late evenings just so the thieves in London to take over half of what you earn is no way of life. On top of all sorts of taxes and bills. Your videos really inspired me to look around rural Bulgaria. I love the Rhodopi mountains( YOU MUST VISIT!!!) albeit is tad cold over there, however there are too many bears for my liking. And you can't really grow much around there( bar potatoes). The locals are one of the poorest (they used to be in the past) but they also were the most friendly and lovely people I've ever met(can't say the same about the English xD and my in laws hate in their guts xD) . Looked at some houses around VT, looks really cheap. I plan to rent for a few months and see how our old capital is like. Keep doing what you love. You're so natural at it and it's lovely to see the progress you're making. Only thing I feel pity for the younger Brits( like yourself) is that the older gen hating fooriners messed you so badly. It's really a shame. I can't imagine my parents or grandparents ever doing something like this to the young. Brexit is a total bo***cks.

@@svetoslavtodorov2427 let us know if you need any help looking for places, although I'm sure your native knowledge is much better than we can offer. I feel your pain about the UK. It's awful for young families.

@@the_phoenixproject thank you so much for your willingness to help. Every part of Bulgaria is slightly different but I'd believe I'll manage. On a side note, do you have any experience with local traders? Do you know how much labourers cost per day in your area? And eventually a skilled one ( I can do my own plumbing and wiring as a maintenance engineer with both electrical and mechanical background) but when it comes to roofing and plastering etc I'm clueless to most extent. And for sure I'll have to hire someone to do the tiles etc. we decided to give it a go for a few months ( planning to have Christmas with snow this year !!!) and eventually buy a house. Seen some decent ones who would be suitable around VT but they'll require an extensive amount of work.

Живи и здрави! Да, съгласна съм! ☺️❤️✨

Wow - thank you so much! 😊🙏❤️❤️❤️

Yes, such a good idea! 😁

No problem! Thanks for the video inspiration! ☺️

Sorry to hear that! Good luck 💕

It was all done very quickly (within 20 minutes) and yes you need to have copies of everything. I don't think they asked any specific questions. It took around 3 weeks to receive the visa. Hope this helps!

@@the_phoenixproject Thank you

Exactly 💯

I cook a lot of meals from basic ingredients. I think that makes a huge difference. Diesel is also expensive.

Yes, this needs its own video for sure 😅 And you're right, waiting for the middle aisle to bring virtuous gifts is the best method! Otherwise, there are a few local DIY shops that have consumables like you mentioned. I'll get Anthony to make a video about it all and take a trip to our favourite hardware shops!

❤️❤️❤️

I suppose I should have mentioned the situation with water shortages but I suppose we are clouded by the fortune we have here in our area. What I mean is that it's different to the UK where we don't have accessible water springs for free or wells. I'm not sure how I can correct this, maybe I can do a short about it?

Fair comment, often we are left without water during the day. Pleven area. Out of bed at 5 am just to get a shower. Beautiful Bulgaria.

​​@@the_phoenixprojecteven in the city centre of Sofia you can fill as much mineral water as your heart desires). Plenty of spring and mineral water up and down the country. I can't think of any village without a well and a local lovely spring water tap.

Our cats are picky too. They like the T-market brand of food which is a couple of quid per tin I think. It was the supermarket tinned brand featured in the video? We also buy dry dog food for Ivy to supplement the wet food from the local pet store and it's very affordable!!

It was announced on Facebook and in our last live KZbin Q&A video. Sorry you missed it!

No, we are nearer to Popovo.

It's certainly made us rethink our diet!

I traded some of my homemade jam and the lady is always so friendly with me. I couldn't believe it when they gave me a whole box of tomatoes!! They were SO delicious! 😋

@@the_phoenixproject Справяш се толкова добре! ❤️

Yes! Quite a lot, actually. And there are lots of markets and car-boot sales.

Thanks you ❤

😂 couldn't help myself!

I think I'm going to let Anthony film a building materials video and a motor vehicle video as a spin-off from this subject because they need their own videos!

It depends on your expertise and your ability to work out here. It's complicated for Brits to work legally out here and there isn't really a lot of work in terms of salaried positions. However, I think there is a lot of remote work you could do and many people choose that option!

Absolutely 💯

My weekly shop in the Wirral for a family of three is never under £100. Nowadays more like £150 with couple top ups of this and that on top( beer, bread, milk and alike). Time to persuade the other half and move back to my home country I suppose. Even the English don't want to stay in England lol.

Yes, food can be so expensive here! That's why we try to grow as much as possible 💝

@the_phoenixproject I think you're veggie, aren't you? That certainly helps. Meat is very expensive. I grew veg for years in the uk, and kept chickens and ducks...setting all that up is an expense in itself but i think the ground and weather is better in Bulgaria so not as much expense in terms of propagators, pots, compost etc I suppose. I'll see when I start planting next spring!

What do you mean meat is expensive? Proper meat like for like is cheaper in Bulgaria than in England unless you compare it to the awful supermarket grade. You can do what most of us used to - check the surrounding villages / neighbours who's selling. Every morning in the local supermarket ( if you have one) you'll find the local grannies(aka the local news reporters) they know everything including who was where, who farted loudly on the street yesterday and all sorts of things that could be useful to you. Anyway, old people used to grow an extra pig or two to supplement their income ( selling in the autumn at around 100kg live weight), those with cows used to sell calves too. Every may (for orthodox Easter) you can get a whole lamb ( cooked in clay oven, yum!) and so on.

@svetoslavtodorov2427 I was meaning compared to Romania where I'm working at the moment. The UK is insane in prices. But Romanian lidl is definitely cheaper than bulgarian lidl.

@@Bulgaria_Bucharest because vat on food is like 10% compared to Bulgarian 20%.

Bulgaria has been in the EU for years. If you mean the Euro, the EU constantly refuses them because the inflation is too high in Bulgaria.

@@Bulgaria_BucharestI’m sorry hun but… you are absolutely incorrect. EU did not refuse as Bulgaria never applied officially for the eurozone. Talks are going on , and In fact Bulgaria is for sure the next member state. You mention you work in Romania? Well surprise surprise Romania got higher inflation also unbelievable government debt compared to Bulgaria. Also I noticed on the video shugar for 2 leva something, well last week I bought sugar for 1.55 from Kaufland it depend on the area and the discounts the chains are doing.

@@r.a.3984 Bulgaria has been a member of the EU since 2007. It's now part of Schengen by air and sea, but not land borders. It first applied to join the Euro in 2020, wanting to become part of the Eurozone in 2025. However, the 2024 ECB convergence report concluded that inflation was too high. It continues to apply. I'm unsure what me being in Romania has to do with your comment. I simply said that BG is in the EU, which is factually correct - it has been EU for almost 20 years.

@@Bulgaria_Bucharest the incorrect thing is that Bulgaria DID NOT agreed or conduct talks about membership before 2024 in the eurozone also I read other of your comments praising Romania that’s why I simply explained to you that Romania got higher inflation plus won’t be member of the eurozone anytime soon, plus there are many discounts in Bulgaria where you can find very cheap food ;) oh yep and prolly u are in Bucharest and the remaining part of Romania is much different than Bucharest (been myself in Romania many times now )

@Kitty_cat2001 we must agree to differ, because the conversation in my village in Bulgaria is very often about Bulgaria joining the eurozone and what impact that will have on our finances. In the three years we've been there we have really seen prices rise, and food prices are definitely better here, say if you compare Lidl in Pleven or Lukovit to Lidl here. I work here to keep money coming in so that we can afford a decent life in Bulgaria.

Thank you 😊🙏

He certainly makes us laugh 😂

The stick or the lama toy 😂

I'm glad someone enjoyed it 😂

@@peaceloved8218 it was the stick that got me 1st haha

It's a difficult one that might need a separate video, honestly. It's completely different out here (in a good way, I think). Insurance is very affordable and so are the other costs. I'll get Anthony to dig out some receipts and we will do a separate video on motor costs. There is a national health service that you can pay into each month for £13/30 leva. Or you can just pay for treatment as you need it.

Depends on the car. Normally the equivalent of 25 gbp for the yearly technical inspection, average of 120-150 gbp for the insurance (can be paid in 4 parts). If you are not employed by a company, you need to pay your own health insurance, I think it was around 10 gbp a month. You could also go for extra health insurance and those can be costly.

@@the_phoenixproject £13 a month?! Amazing! I have visited Bulgaria a couple of times now. Love the place, the nature, the people and especially the freedom. My retirement destination.

Keep in mind there was a big brain drain around the financial crisis and a lot of the young doctors moved abroad. And old one retired or are about to. For more serious in depth treatment you'll most likely be transferred to one of the big cities, like Sofia , Plovdiv, Varna and possibly Burgas. Not entirely sure for anything outside of Sofia to be honest. There is no waiting for GPs tho. You just go to your GP office and ask who's last on the queue, wait for your turn and tadaa. In Sofia most GP practices are huge buildings with specialists on site ( with referral from your GP) , x-ray , lab and alike. Visiting the GP costs about one euro per visit ( used to) , a sick note was 2.5 euro( first 3 days of sickness are paid by the employer hence they want to be sure you actually was sick and didn't just call in sick for day off, err like Brits do). Dental care is nothing like England ( I'm dreading British dentists). It's super cheap and in most cases better.

Yes, which is why I highlighted that we make and grow a lot of food.

Food is one of the few things where the price almost is what it is. Taxes, internet, power is where the government decides if they're gonna let you be fleeced or not. (In the UK when renewables make our energy for free, the government signed up to pay the gas companies compensation for those days???? corrupt much)

I’m sure that there are many discounts even now a kg of potatoes cost around 0,65 Bulgarian stotinki so 10 kg will be 6,50 or around d 3.50£

@@r.a.3984 im talking varna and the village stores, i have not seen potatoes that cheap ever. maybe in other villages / regions , it's different of course

@@firepanda282 I’m talking about Varna … please, check Kaufland and Lidl even online. Currently in Kaufland they are 0.69 stotinki I just check to make sure it’s right now. It was cheaper they do deals every week different items cmon

It's only 18 leva per month for our internet via A1. It's really good!

I pay 8£ per month for internet and it's fast internet and my internet speen test is Download Mbps 130.68 Upload Mbps 36.56 or Download Kbps 127964 Upload Kbps 36424 [ I'm from Bulgaria ]

I used to have 150 Mbps 20 years ago via a simple cable for 12.5 euro. Moving to England and having 5 Mbps was shocking experience. And I had to pay for a landline lol.

Completely irrelevant though isn't it?

average BG salary is 3000 bgn

@@MrDariomag327 in Sofia yes,check Vratza and Montana salaries

I get nearly as much in Bulgaria as I use to get while living in UK. Bulgarian salaries are growing and some costs are dropping or staying same level.

@@baihui7349there is much cheaper everything and tbh in Vratza are many available jobs

We don't take medication or have any prescriptions, but I know it's much more affordable than many other countries.

You pay the price of all prescribed medication and the cost of percriprion. Only people with certain conditions and old age can get around 25% off ( not sure for percentage) the price. If you need a hospital you will be asked for supplies/ bandage, bed sheets, plasters, syringe, even food before you go there. Also money for the staff and the doctors.

If you are registered with a local GP (free to register, can be done june and december), you pay 2 GBP for a visit. In that visit they can examine you and write a prescription, send you to another doctor with a document (it means you pay way less that way), they can also issue sick leave for you. Generally very cheap.

@@MrDariomag327 Thank you.

@@ivetadimitrova6290 Thank you

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