I'm a bit nomadic but I also am tiring of not having a more permanent housing situation. I don't want to live out of suitcases anymore. So I am looking for places to be my home base for a year at a time. It doesn't mean I can't leave and travel at any time, just that I will only take a small suitcase with me and leave the rest at home. I also work online so I am free to do this, and I like experiencing new places, not just visiting but staying long enough to immerse myself a bit. I will rent for one year.
Is this a good idea? Should I reconsider?
Btw I am an EU citizen so it's easy to move there. I an well traveled so I pick up languages quickly and I won't fall for scams. I don't need to work locally. I study Russian and already can read Cyrillic, Bulgarian is similar.
it's indeed easy for EU citizen, sign a rent contract, visit immigration office three times, show passport, health insurance, prove of income or funds, and you get 5 year residence permit within a week
it’s a solid city/country for a home base. you will be fine in sofia, your biggest problem will be boredom. the locals are rude and cold. I was for one year in Sofia and leaving soon. Nothing happening here.
pros:
- internet is very cheap and stable 20-30EUR/months
- 5g mobile flat is cheap 20-30EUR/months
- rent is reasonable for what you get
- you can get reasonable priced health insurance from allianz worldwide
- if you stay in the center you wont have any problems with crime or gypsies
- food is good and cheap
- 10% flat tax on personal income
cons
- air pollution can be bad when there are some thermal effects
- bulgarian traffic is bad
- bulgarians cold and rude
- very hard to make friends
- bulgarian women are incredible strange and misserable to be around
- mind numbing boring after a couple weeks
- city is a shithole, very little pleasant architecture
Thanks so much for the reply
I understand it's a bit boring from looking at the map, that's why I will travel often as usual. There's are many pretty places I can easily get to.
>air pollution can be bad when there are some thermal effects
I lived in Seoul and Beijing, I will get some masks and air filter for home
>bulgarian traffic is bad
I don't drive, but good to know for taxi or car service
>bulgarians cold and rude
>very hard to make friends
I'm introverted anyway
>bulgarian women are incredible strange and misserable to be around
I'm female so not really concerned with that, single as a pringle and not ready to mingle lol
Well I feel even more excited for this. I look forward to trying local food.
Ahahaha what if I only intend to stay for a year, I'll look into it
not schengen as you know, if you want to stay longer than 3 months you need to get a residence permit. they give you 5 years, they wont force you to stay this long. think they have as well something for 12 months, but should be the same process
I'm seeing that I need to register my address, does that include getting a permit? I will visit before I decide anything anyway so I will ask the realtor about it.
if you want to stay longer than 3 months in one stay you need a residence permit. To get a residence permit you need an local address, EU passport, proof of funds/income, and european healthcare card. You fill out some paperwork, make a picture, and then you get and residence permit id card. It will cost you less than 100 euro and is done in a week. Though would be easier if you get an local lawyer to help you deal with the immigration office and paper work.
Alright thanks for the kind information. I have time to prepare
Visit the place right now before 2024 starts
Plovdiv is better.
Plovdiv sucks sofia sucks. The whole country is decaying crumbling concrete, concrete buildings, concrete sidewalks with giant holes, concrete benches, concrete trashcan, concrete art. All from the commie era, falling apart. Everybody is old and poor, everyone is a scammer. Everything is dirty and polluted. Go into the grocery store the price on the shelf is 5 they charge you 7, same in restaurants, when you notice they shrug their shoulders and charge you more, God forbid you need healthcare. Public service workers screaming at everyone, gypsies scamming and stealing. And they hate all their neighbors, oh we are taking back Macedonia or moldova the old woman who had 0 children says. Dying shithole soon to be filled with Black folks
Enough about the US,this thread is about Bulgaria.
Coom scene?
go for it
Vienna is the best European city to live in by far. I haven't been to every one, but I'm pretty confident in that assertion. You're lucky to have EU citizenship, if I did, I would live there.
How did you reach that conclusion?
It's expensive and hard to find work without German. If you live in Europe you can visit anytime without making it home.