BULGARIA | Accommodation | General information
General (student) Housing situation
In Bulgaria accommodation prices vary depending on region, location and quality. Costs for self-catering accommodation per month may vary from 60 leva (approximately €30) in a dormitory room to 800 leva (approximately €400) or even more for a two-bedroom apartment, where energy, water, cable and internet services will cost extra. In the dormitories a student would normally share the room with 2-3 more people; sometimes toilets and showers are on the floor. If students rent an apartment they usually share it too. Finding accommodation in September when students return to college can be difficult.
Student campus accommodation is quite limited in Bulgaria, and virtually impossible to obtain during the academic year unless you reserve it away in advance. It is more readily available in the summer months. Privately rented accommodation is more common and the resources below will help you in your search for a place to stay.
It is advisable to organize at least a week of temporary accommodation in Bulgaria, before you arrive as it may take several days to find a place to stay. For more information on short term accommodation please visit
Types of accommodation
- Apartments/House Sharing
- Halls of Residence usually organized through International Offices. This type of accommodation is usually near the campus and is purpose built with communal kitchen and facilities.
Finding Accommodation
If you have not arranged your accommodation in advance you will find advertisements for accommodation in local newspapers, online, on student notice boards and community notice boards in apartment buildings.
The internet is a popular tool for advertising rental accommodation.
Keep in mind that the ads are not always current so you have to call and find out. In most cases you have to deal with a real estate agent, though rarely the owners themselves advertise their place. Estate agents can also be very helpful and you can go to their offices and view the rentals that they have available. In Bulgaria, estate agents do not usually charge a fee for organizing viewings and negotiating renting terms, but they will charge you if they find a place for you that you decide to rent. Very often fellow students can help you find accommodation and are glad to do it.
There are several matters you should consider before you begin your search for accommodation:
- Do you wish to live alone or share with others?
- What is your budget?
- Location?
Some key questions
Having found accommodation which matches your needs it is important to consider some of the following questions:
- Is the apartment/house in a student area?
- Will you be living far from where you work?
- Is there public transport in the area?
- Are all the appliances - shower, washing machine - working?
- Does the present furniture come with the apartment/house?
- What kind of heating does the place have?