Monthly Cost of Living for a Family of Three Reachess €1,516, Trade Unions Say

A single working person needs €842 a month to cover their basic living expenses. This is according to data published by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) on the cost of living over the past three months. How much does a family of three need each month, and by how much has the cost of living increased?

The cost of living is rising, and significantly so. For a family of three, the amount needed to cover living expenses is considerably higher, at €1,516. CITUB’s study assumes a household consisting of two working adults and one child under the age of 14. On an annual basis, the income required has risen by as much as 6.4%.

A year-on-year comparison shows that the minimum net income required by a single person has increased by €51, while the figure for a family has risen by €92. Compared with 2024, the amount needed has increased by as much as €178.

CITUB also reports significant price increases for food and non-food goods. On an annual basis, the increase is 5.3%. A further €333 a month is needed for food alone, the trade union says.

Inflation figures are also particularly concerning. The latest data show that inflation in Bulgaria has already exceeded 6%. Prices for several staple food and non-food products in Bulgaria are higher than the corresponding levels across the European Union.

Violeta Ivanova, Deputy Director of CITUB’s Institute for Social and Trade Union Research and Training: “When we compare the prices of essential goods, both food and non-food, the increases in Bulgaria stand out significantly against those recorded in EU member states. It is worth noting that cereal products, including bread, have risen in price by 1.5% in Bulgaria, compared with just 0.4% across the EU. The most striking and pronounced increase has been recorded in diesel prices. In Bulgaria, prices have risen by 55%, compared with an EU average of 40%. Petrol prices have increased by almost 34% in Bulgaria, compared with 27.3% across the EU.”