Business
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% (Flat rate)
- VAT
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €64,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €44,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €90,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €60,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €112,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €950 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €76,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% (Flat rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned legislation applies
- Property Tax
- 0.01% to 0.45% of evaluated value (determined by municipality)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 2% to 4% including notary fees
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, Bulgarian 10% flat tax is one of the lowest in the EU
Essentials
- City
- Nessebar, Burgas Province, Bulgaria
- Population
- Approximately 14,000 (increases significantly during summer)
- Internet Speed
- Avg 75 Mbps; high-speed fiber available via Vivacom or A1
- Currency & Banking
- Bulgarian Lev (BGN); 1 EUR ≈ 1.96 BGN, 1 USD ≈ 1.81 BGN
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, but many locals prefer bottled water for taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Vivacom, A1, Yettel (approx. 20 BGN for 20GB data)
- Banking for Expats
- DSK Bank, UniCredit Bulbank, Revolut widely used
- Accommodation
- Local guesthouses starting at 50 BGN/night; modern apartments in New Town
- Cashless Friendly
- Old Town shops prefer cash; New Town supermarkets and hotels accept cards
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (approx. 900-1,500 BGN per month off-season)
- Budget Accommodation
- Guest House Jeni, Guest House Zornitza (prices from 35 BGN/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Town (Ancient architecture, seaside views)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- New Town (Cherno More district) for better infrastructure and winter services
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None in Nessebar town; closest is Burgas Free University Hub or Salt Up in Burgas (35km away)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Janny (New Town), Coffee & Love (Old Town) - decent Wi-Fi and quiet mornings
- Networking Events
- Limited locally; Digital Nomads Bulgaria Facebook Group organizes meetups in nearby Sunny Beach
- Social Events for Expats
- The 'Expats in Sunny Beach & Nessebar' Facebook Group meetings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber; use local taxis (Taxime app works in Burgas), prices roughly 3-4 BGN per km
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Nessebar Bike Rental (Old Town entrance), approx. 20 BGN per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- South Beach Nessebar (cleaner/quieter than Sunny Beach)
- Top Regional Airline
- Bulgaria Air (connecting to Sofia)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Wizz Air (via Burgas Airport - BOJ)
- Highway Access
- A1 Trakia Motorway connects nearby Burgas to Sofia
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Burgas Central Railway Station (connected by bus #11)
- Public Transport Passes
- Single tickets (2.00 BGN) purchased on board; no digital pass system
- Regional Travel
- Bus to Burgas (45 mins, 6 BGN) or Varna (2 hours, 15 BGN)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Medical Center Viva (Sunny Beach) or UMBAL Burgas (Major emergencies)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio 'Shanti' in New Town; Wellness center at Melia Sunny Beach
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Center 'The Red' (New Town), approx. 10 BGN per visit
- Laundry Services
- Public Laundry at Mladost Supermarket (Sunny Beach)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Takeaway.com (Glovo is available but limited in off-season)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Shopska Salad and Grilled Black Sea Mussels
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Eco-Bar By The Two Towers (unique atmosphere, vegetarian friendly)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Ice Cream Gelato di Natura (Old Town)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Janet Grand Market (massive selection, cheaper prices)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- eMAG.bg, Fashion Days
- Grocery Delivery
- T-Market online delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Flower Street (Sunny Beach - 10 mins away by bus/taxi)
- Local Brewery
- Glarus Beer (Local craft beer found in specialty shops)
- Wine Bars
- Mesembria Winery (Old Town) - famous for fermented fruit wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Pekarnata (The Bakery) New Town for Banitsa (traditional pastry)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Old Sailor (Seafood/Mediterranean), White Rose (International/Bulgarian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Church of Saint Sophia (Old Town ruins)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Archaeological Museum Nessebar (at the town entrance)
- Historical Sites
- Church of Christ Pantocrator, Ancient City Walls
- Religious Sites
- Church of St. Stephen (11th-century frescoes)
- Annual Events
- Nessebar Day (August 15th) - massive celebrations and concerts
- Cultural Districts
- The entire Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Theater Venues
- Ancient Theatre (Open-air venue for summer performances)
- Local Markets
- Nessebar Farmer's Market (Occurs weekly in New Town)
- Music Scene
- Bedrock Beach Bar (Chill live music in summer)
- Street Art
- Small murals in the Cherno More residential district
- Cooking Classes
- Available through local guest house 'The Old House' upon request
- Art Galleries
- Art Gallery Nessebar (Old Town, contemporary Bulgarian art)
- Historic Buildings
- The Windmill (Entrance to the Old Town)
- Local Heritage
- UNESCO Intangible Heritage status for traditional wood-cased houses
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Irakli Beach (Protected wild beach, 30km north)
- National Parks Nearby
- Strandzha Nature Park (1 hour drive south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Promenade connecting Nessebar to Sunny Beach (approx. 5km)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The northern coast of the Old Town peninsula at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Atanasovsko Lake (Burgas, major migratory path)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Unauthorized generally, but common at Irakli Beach
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Econt or Speedy (Local hubs in New Town)
- Tech Repair Services
- Ivanov Computer Services (New Town)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sport Complex Nessebar
- Language Classes
- Linguamundi (located in Nearby Burgas)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Chitalishte 'Yana Laskova' (Old Town Community center/Library)
- Community Centers
- Municipal Children's Complex Nessebar
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; mostly in Sofia/Plovdiv, small internet cafes in Sunny Beach
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Platinum Casino (Sunny Beach)