If you live alone in Bulgaria, you need at least 1,526 leva per month to cover your basic expenses. For a family with one child, the amount increases to 2,748 leva, which is 137 leva more than last year. This is shown by the latest data from the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions (CITUB) on the cost of living in the country.
„Prices in Sofia are higher than the national average, but the problem is far from limited to the capital. "The cost of living is increasing, but wages are also increasing in many sectors. The question is: to what extent does this lead to higher inflation?" he said in the "Interview in the NOVA News" the president of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions Plamen Dimitrov.
„Over the last 5 years, average incomes have increased by 83% nominally, but the real increase (after inflation) is about 30%“, he added.
Prices are growing faster than incomes
„Food prices in our country reach 87% of the average European level, while our incomes remain at only 66% of the EU average, calculated by purchasing power parity“, stressed Dimitrov.
„There is no way, with such a difference, that Bulgarians will not feel pressure, despite the growing incomes“, he added.
„We have the highest prices of dairy products in the EU for the last two and a half years. This is unacceptable“, Dimitrov was categorical.
According to him, cartel behavior is possible in the market:
“I say it as an assumption, but let the CPC check it. There is no logical explanation for how our cow's cheese reaches 10 euros per kilogram, given that in Greece production is more efficient“, he said.
Will “people's shops“ help?
The idea of creating state-owned retail outlets, known as “people's shops“, causes mixed reactions - from hope to fear of a return to a centralized economy.
“I don't see anything wrong with the state trying. But in order for it to function, there must be a market premium. Otherwise, they can't survive. Today, some chains have a 300% markup over the manufacturer's price - this is not fair, "said Plamen Dimitrov.
Wages and the future with the euro
Regarding the expected introduction of the euro, the president of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions announced: “We expect the minimum wage to be around 600 euros from January, and the average wage is already over 1200 euros. This is part of the convergence plan“.
“However, it is important not to allow prices to outpace incomes - this will undermine the effect of growth,“ he was categorical.
Working poor - the reality of 2025
“256,000 people in Bulgaria work on the minimum wage – these are the real working poor. About half a million people are in the area around the minimum. This is not normal. I hope things will change“, concluded the president of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions.