- Country Guide
- Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Last Update by Katie, 12 Aug 2024
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Exchange Rate
18 Sep 2024
Cost of Living
Indicative value for a working adult in a city: Sofia
Publicly available data (Numbeo, etc..), verified by Marco’s in-country staff
| Living Requirement | Indicative Amount (BGN) |
|---|---|
| McDonalds Set Meal | 15 |
| Monthly Train and Bus Tickets | 50 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (City Center) | 1,868 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (Outskirt) | 1,263 |
Current Inflation Rate
3.5%
Wage
Minimum Wages
- 933 BGN per month
Median Salary
Estimated based on general positions such as HR, Accounting, Admin roles, in tier one cities.
| Job Level | Monthly Salary (BGN) |
|---|---|
|
Entry-Level
Fresh Graduate
|
950 |
|
Mid-Level
5 Years
|
1,500 |
|
Experienced & Managerial Level
10 Years
|
3,000 |
|
Specialized & Senior-Level
15 Years
|
>3,000 |
Annual Salary Growth
14.7%
Statutory Contribution
Country Level
| Type | Employer Rates | Employee Rates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pension Fund | 8.22% | 6.58% |
All insured staff Maximum BGN 3,750 contribution base |
| Universal Pension Fund | 2.8% | 2.2% | All Staff |
| Unemployment Fund | 0.6% | 0.4% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Health Insurance Fund | 4.8% | 3.2% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Common Disease and Maternity Fund | 2.1% | 1.4% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Accidents and Occupational Diseases Fund | 0.4–1.1% | - | All Staff |
| Length of Service Allowance | 0.6% | - | All Staff with 1 years' service |
Other Benefit
Other common employment benefits in Bulgaria include:
- Food Voucher: Around 80 BGN per month
- Multisport Card: Around 100 BGN per month fully paid for by the employer, or split between employer and staff
Income Tax
Residents
-
Tax period: 1st January - 31st March
Filing Due Date: 30th April the following year - Flat rate of income tax: 10%
Non-residents
- Depends on the double taxation agreement between countries. Typically, only income originating in Bulgaria is taxed: 10%
Working Hours
Statutory
40 hours
8 hours, 5 days a week
Typical practice
40 hours
Monday-Friday
Overtime
Up to 150 hours per calendar year
- Working days: 150% regular pay
- Weekends: 175% regular pay
- Public holidays: 200% regular pay
Employment Contract
Permanent
Contract Format
Written, in Bulgarian
Payroll Currency
BGN
Probation
6 months
Contract Period
No maximum duration
Termination
-
Notice during probation:
- Up to 8 days' service: 24 hours
- 8 days -1 month service: 48 hours
- 1 month service: 2 weeks
- 3 months' service: 1 month -
Voluntary Resignation:
- 30 days minimum notice in writing
- Up to 3 months can be agreed between staff and employer -
Involuntary termination:
- 30 days minimum notice in writing
- Up to 3 months can be agreed between staff and employer -
Severance:
- Dismissals for closure/ partial closure of establishment, staff cuts: 1 month’s salary
- Dismissal due to disability, hazard or health staff with 5 years 'service and has not received severance in the past 5 years: 2 months’ salary
- Dismissal on all other rounds: 2 months’ salary
Public Holiday
12 days
Country Level
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 01 Jan | New Year's Day |
| 03 Mar - 04 Mar | Liberation Day |
| 01 May | Labour Day |
| 03 May - 06 May | Orthodox Easter |
| 06 May | St. George's Day |
| 24 May | Culture and Literacy Day |
| 06 Sep | Unification Day |
| 22 Sep - 23 Sep | Independence Day |
| 01 Nov | National Awakeners Day |
| 24 Dec - 26 Dec | Christmans Day |
Leave
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 20 working days | All staff with 4 month's service |
| Sick Leave | Up to 18 months | All staff with 6 months social security conbtributions |
| Maternity Leave |
410 calendar days 45 days before birth, 365 after birth |
Expectant mothers with 12 months' social security contributions |
| Paternity Leave | 15 calendar days | Expectant fathers who are married and share a household with the mother |
| Adoption Leave | 365 calendar days | All staff who adopt a child aged 2-5 |
| Shared Parental Leave | Balance of mother's leave | Expectant mothers transferring leave to fathers when child reaches 6 months |
| Marriage Leave | 2 working days | All staff |
| Bereavement Leave | 2 working days | All staff with death of a parent, child, spouse, brother, sister and parent of the other spouse |
Reference
- https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Sofia
- https://postedworkers.gli.government.bg/en/19/minimum-wage/
- https://mlsp.government.bg/obezshcheteniya-po-kodeksa-na-truda
- https://mlsp.government.bg/obezshcheteniya-po-kodeksa-za-sotsialno-osiguryavane
- https://mlsp.government.bg/trudovo-pravootnoshenie-prekratyavane
- https://mlsp.government.bg/otpuski
- https://www.mh.government.bg/bg/informaciya-za-grazhdani/osigurovki/zdravnoosiguritelni-vnoski/
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Contact UsCountry Guide - Bulgaria
Last updated: 12 Aug 2024
Exchange Rate
Currency (BGN)
- 1 CNY = 0.185 BGN
- 1 USD = 1.32 BGN
Other currencies can be retrieved via the country guide link above.
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Labor Cost Calculator
To know the total employer cost for hiring a staff with certain salary, please go to our main site: https://marcopayroll.com
Cost of Living
Indicative value for a working adult in a city: Sofia
Publicly available data (Numbeo, etc..), verified by Marco’s in-country staff
| Living Requirement | Indicative Amount (BGN) |
|---|---|
| McDonalds Set Meal | 15 |
| Monthly Train and Bus Tickets | 50 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (City Center) | 1,868 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (Outskirt) | 1,263 |
Current Inflation Rate
3.5%
Wage
Minimum Wages
- 933 BGN per month
Median Salary
Estimated based on general positions such as HR, Accounting, Admin roles, in tier one cities.
| Job Level | Monthly Salary (BGN) |
|---|---|
|
Entry-Level
Fresh Graduate
|
950 |
|
Mid-Level
5 Years
|
1,500 |
|
Experienced & Managerial Level
10 Years
|
3,000 |
|
Specialized & Senior-Level
15 Years
|
>3,000 |
Annual Salary Growth
14.7%
Statutory Contribution
Country Level
| Type | Employer Rates | Employee Rates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pension Fund | 8.22% | 6.58% |
All insured staff Maximum BGN 3,750 contribution base |
| Universal Pension Fund | 2.8% | 2.2% | All Staff |
| Unemployment Fund | 0.6% | 0.4% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Health Insurance Fund | 4.8% | 3.2% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Common Disease and Maternity Fund | 2.1% | 1.4% |
All insured staff Maximum 3,750 BGN contribution base |
| Accidents and Occupational Diseases Fund | 0.4–1.1% | - | All Staff |
| Length of Service Allowance | 0.6% | - | All Staff with 1 years' service |
Other Benefit
Other common employment benefits in Bulgaria include:
- Food Voucher: Around 80 BGN per month
- Multisport Card: Around 100 BGN per month fully paid for by the employer, or split between employer and staff
Income Tax
Residents
-
Tax period: 1st January - 31st March
Filing Due Date: 30th April the following year - Flat rate of income tax: 10%
Non-residents
- Depends on the double taxation agreement between countries. Typically, only income originating in Bulgaria is taxed: 10%
Working Hours
Statutory
40 hours
8 hours, 5 days a week
Typical practice
40 hours
Monday-Friday
Overtime
Up to 150 hours per calendar year
- Working days: 150% regular pay
- Weekends: 175% regular pay
- Public holidays: 200% regular pay
Employment Contract
Fixed-Term
For specific work, replacing absent staff, seasonal activities
Probation
Contracts shorter than 1 year: 1 month and cannot exceed 6 months
Termination
-
Notice during probation for staff and employers
- Up to 8 days' service: 24 hours
- 8 days -1 month service: 48 hours
- 1 month service: 2 weeks
- 3 months' service: 1 month -
Voluntary Resignation:
- From 30 days up to 3 months notice, but no more than the remainder of the contract term -
Involuntary termination:
- From 30 days up to 3 months notice, but no more than the remainder of the contract term -
Severance:
- Dismissals for closure/ partial closure of establishment, staff cuts: 1 month’s salary
- Dismissal due to disability, hazard or health staff with 5 years 'service and has not received severance in the past 5 years: 2 months’ salary
- Dismissal on all other rounds: 2 months’ salary
Permanent
Probation
6 months
Termination
-
Notice during probation:
- Up to 8 days' service: 24 hours
- 8 days -1 month service: 48 hours
- 1 month service: 2 weeks
- 3 months' service: 1 month -
Voluntary Resignation:
- 30 days minimum notice in writing
- Up to 3 months can be agreed between staff and employer -
Involuntary termination:
- 30 days minimum notice in writing
- Up to 3 months can be agreed between staff and employer -
Severance:
- Dismissals for closure/ partial closure of establishment, staff cuts: 1 month’s salary
- Dismissal due to disability, hazard or health staff with 5 years 'service and has not received severance in the past 5 years: 2 months’ salary
- Dismissal on all other rounds: 2 months’ salary
Public Holiday
12 days
2024
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
2025
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
Leave
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 20 working days | All staff with 4 month's service |
| Sick Leave | Up to 18 months | All staff with 6 months social security conbtributions |
| Maternity Leave |
410 calendar days 45 days before birth, 365 after birth |
Expectant mothers with 12 months' social security contributions |
| Paternity Leave | 15 calendar days | Expectant fathers who are married and share a household with the mother |
| Adoption Leave | 365 calendar days | All staff who adopt a child aged 2-5 |
| Shared Parental Leave | Balance of mother's leave | Expectant mothers transferring leave to fathers when child reaches 6 months |
| Marriage Leave | 2 working days | All staff |
| Bereavement Leave | 2 working days | All staff with death of a parent, child, spouse, brother, sister and parent of the other spouse |
Reference
- https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Sofia
- https://postedworkers.gli.government.bg/en/19/minimum-wage/
- https://mlsp.government.bg/obezshcheteniya-po-kodeksa-na-truda
- https://mlsp.government.bg/obezshcheteniya-po-kodeksa-za-sotsialno-osiguryavane
- https://mlsp.government.bg/trudovo-pravootnoshenie-prekratyavane
- https://mlsp.government.bg/otpuski
- https://www.mh.government.bg/bg/informaciya-za-grazhdani/osigurovki/zdravnoosiguritelni-vnoski/
Contact Info
-
Singapore (Headquarters)
8 Marina Boulevard, MBFC Tower 1, #11-01, Singapore, 018981
+65 6653 4334 -
China (Headquarters)
79 Jianguo Road, China Central Place Tower 2, #09-52, Beijing, 100025
+86 10 6580 0555 -
China (Service Center)
23 Dagong Street, Eton Place Tower 2, Unit 1808, Dalian, 116001
-
United States
445 S Figueroa St, 31st Floor, Los Angeles, California, 90071
-
United Kingdom
71 - 75 Shelton Street, London, England GB
-
Netherlands
Vijzelstraat 68, 1017 HL, Amsterdam
-
Australia
Level 22, Salesforce Tower, 180 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000