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Sofia business district at night with Vitosha mountain behind

Why Bulgaria

An EU Base With the Euro and a 10% Tax Rate

Bulgaria combines full membership of Europe's single market, currency and border-free area with some of the lowest flat tax rates in the EU. Here is what that means in practice.

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Bulgaria at a glance · Checked October 2026

All Macroeconomic Data and Charts
Official currency since 1 Jan 2026
€
European Central Bank
Foreign direct investment, H1 2026
€2.18bn
BNB via Sofia Globe
Corporate and personal income tax
10%
Deloitte Tax Highlights 2026
Sofia new-build asking price per m², excl. VAT
€2,070
Colliers via BTA, 2026
Average euro mortgage rate, Q1 2026
2.46%
BNB via Bulgarian Properties
Full Schengen member since 1 January 2025
2025
European Commission

Every page in this section · 71 pages

Everything in Why Bulgaria

The advantages, the costs of doing business, transport and the universities: every page in this section, with figures checked against their sources.

Bulgaria’s Advantages

Cost of Doing Business

Infrastructure

Universities

All 41

Four reasons

Inside Europe's Core, at Lower Cost

The membership dates and rates investors ask about most. The sources are listed at the foot of the page.

  • EU member since 2007

    Full access to the single market, under EU rules on goods, services and capital.

  • Euro since 2026

    No currency conversion for trade and investment with the rest of the euro area.

  • Schengen since 2025

    No border checks with the other Schengen countries, by land, sea or air.

  • 10% flat taxes

    Among the lowest standard corporate and personal income-tax rates in the EU.

Bulgaria’s advantages

Eleven Reasons, Checked for October 2026

Each page sets out the current figures, how Bulgaria compares with the rest of the EU and what to weigh, with every number linked to its source.

  • 01

    Cost of Doing Business

    Labour, offices, energy and fuel cost less than in most of the EU. Twelve pages, one per cost, in euro.

    63 Price level for household consumption, 2025 (EU = 100), the lowest in the EU

    Read more

  • 02

    Workforce

    About 3 million people in work, unemployment of 3.5% and a growing pool of IT specialists, at the lowest labour cost in the EU.

    3.04 m People in work, 2025

    Read more

  • 03

    Cost of Assets

    Farmland at about €8,400 a hectare, new flats in Sofia at about €2,070 per m² and some of the EU’s lowest building costs.

    €8,426 Average price of farmland per hectare, 2025

    Read more

  • 04

    Education

    51 universities and colleges, about 203,000 students and a strong tradition in engineering, medicine and mathematics.

    51 Accredited higher education institutions

    Read more

  • 05

    EU, NATO, Euro and Schengen

    NATO since 2004, the EU since 2007, Schengen since 2025 and the euro since January 2026.

    2004 NATO member, since 29 March

    Read more

  • 06

    Economic Growth

    GDP growth of 3.1% in 2025, public debt under 30% of GDP and income catching up with the EU average.

    €116.0 bn GDP in 2025 (preliminary)

    Read more

  • 07

    Taxes

    A flat 10% on company profits and personal income, the second-lowest corporate rate in the EU.

    10% Corporate income tax

    Read more

  • 08

    Foreign Investment

    €58 billion of foreign direct investment, inflows by year, country, sector and type, and who is investing now.

    €58.3 bn Stock of foreign direct investment, end of March 2026

    Read more

  • 09

    Strategic Location

    Inside the EU and Schengen, on the Black Sea and the Danube, between Central Europe, Greece and Turkey.

    452 m People in the EU single market, 1 January 2026

    Read more

  • 10

    Infrastructure

    Airports, Black Sea ports, railways, motorways, border crossings and the Sofia metro.

    12.3 m Passengers at Bulgarian airports, 2025

    Read more

  • 11

    Political System

    A parliamentary republic in the EU and NATO, with a single-party majority government since May 2026.

    240 Members of the National Assembly

    Read more

  • 12

    Quality of Life

    The lowest prices in the EU, mountains and the Black Sea close at hand, and a capital most residents are happy with.

    63 Price level of consumer goods and services, 2025 (EU = 100), the lowest in the EU

    Read more

Cost of doing business

What It Costs to Operate in Bulgaria

From registering a company to heating an office and shipping a truck to Germany, in euro, for October 2026.

The headline figures, ready to download as a PDF: Bulgaria at a Glance fact sheet.

Overview: Cost of Doing Business

Sources

  1. European Central Bank: Bulgaria joins the euro area
  2. European Commission: Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area
  3. European Parliament: State of the Schengen area (EU accession dates)
  4. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria corporate income tax
  5. Deloitte: International Tax, Bulgaria Highlights 2026
  6. U.S. Department of State: 2025 Investment Climate Statement, Bulgaria
  7. Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry: Investment promotion measures
  8. Bulgarian National Bank: Foreign direct investment, January to June 2026 (PDF)

Compare

Bulgaria and Its Neighbours: Taxes and Labour Costs

Tax rates and labour costs in Bulgaria and four other EU countries in the region, from the latest comparable data.

Bulgaria compared with Romania, Hungary, Poland and Czechia, 2026
Measure Bulgaria Romania Hungary Poland Czechia
Corporate income tax, 20261 10% 16% 9% 19% 21%
Top personal income tax, 20262 10% 10% 15% 36% 23%
Standard VAT rate, 20263 20% 21% 27% 23% 21%
Labour cost per hour worked, 20254 €12.0 €13.6 €15.2 €19.1 €19.8
Net annual earnings, average single worker, 20255 €14,450 €13,877 €15,432 €19,086 €20,901
Statutory minimum wage a month, July 20266 €620 €825 €906 €1,119 €923
  1. Tax Foundation: Corporate Income Tax Rates in Europe, 2026
  2. Tax Foundation: Top Personal Income Tax Rates in Europe, 2026
  3. Tax Foundation: VAT Rates in Europe, 2026
  4. Eurostat: Labour cost levels by country, 2025 (lc_lci_lev)
  5. Eurostat: Annual net earnings, 2025 (earn_nt_net)
  6. Eurostat: Monthly minimum wages, July 2026 (earn_mw_cur)

Business directory

Advisers Who Help Investors Get Started

Companies listed in the InvestBulgaria directory, featured members first. Choose a type of company, or search by city and keyword.

Featured member

Aidos Ltd.

Tax Advisory

Sofia

Aidos Ltd. was established in February 2005 with the idea to support people with the administration side of their businesses and to guide people who want to sta...

Next Point Ltd.

Tax Advisory

Sofia

We deliver our professional advice for your company in Bulgaria you choose the best of it. NEXT POINT is a consulting & accounting company based in Sofia. Our...

Aidos Ltd.

Bookkeeping and Accounting

Sofia

Aidos Ltd. was established in February 2005 with the idea to support people with the administration side of their businesses and to guide people who want to sta...

K&K accounting

Bookkeeping and Accounting

Sofia

Formed in 1999 K&K accounting is a leading, independent provider of accounting and consulting services in Bulgaria. We are a member of Integra International an...

Trinity Corporate Services

Company Formation

Sofia

Trinity was founded in spring 2004 by three professionals with a combined commercial experience of over twenty five years both in Poland and the Central and Eas...

Nominal Ltd

Bookkeeping and Accounting

Bourgas

Nominal Ltd - Bulgaria, Burgas is an accounting company, specialized in outsource services in the field of accounting and tax consulting. Nominal Ltd provides b...

All 10 Company Formation Add Your Company

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bulgaria a good place to invest?

For many investors, yes. Bulgaria is in the EU, Schengen and, since 1 January 2026, the euro area; company profits and personal income are taxed at a flat 10%; and labour cost €12.0 per hour in 2025, the lowest in the EU. Investors also report slow courts, permit delays, frequent changes to laws and labour shortages, so a local lawyer and accountant from the start help.

Is Bulgaria in the EU, euro area and Schengen?

Bulgaria has been an EU member since 2007, a full Schengen member since 1 January 2025, and has used the euro as its official currency since 1 January 2026.

What are the corporate and personal income tax rates in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria’s corporate income tax and personal income tax rates are both 10%. The corporate rate is the second-lowest in the EU.

What is the labour cost per hour in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria’s labour cost was €12.0 per hour in 2025, compared with €34.9 across the EU. Bulgaria has the EU’s lowest labour cost.

How much foreign direct investment did Bulgaria receive in H1 2026?

Bulgaria received €2.18bn in foreign direct investment in H1 2026. Its stock of foreign direct investment was €58.3bn at the end of March 2026.

How much does Class A office space cost to rent in Sofia?

In October 2026, monthly rent for Class A office space in Sofia ranged from €14 to €18 per square metre.

What is the average asking price for new flats in Sofia?

The average asking price for new residential flats in Sofia was €2,070 per square metre, excluding VAT, in October 2026.

Next step

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Lawyers, accountants, translators and recruiters who work with international investors, in the InvestBulgaria directory.

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