Compare countries · Bulgaria vs Greece
Bulgaria vs Greece
Bulgaria(Europe)·
Greece(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Bulgaria leads on 5, Greece on 3, 5 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Bulgaria cheaper than Greece?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Bulgaria at 41.6 and Greece at 54.0. Bulgaria is about 23% cheaper overall.
Is Bulgaria or Greece safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Bulgaria scores 1.63 and Greece scores 1.83. Bulgaria ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Bulgaria or Greece?
On the UN Human Development Index, Bulgaria scores 0.845 and Greece scores 0.908. Greece scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Bulgaria compared to Greece?
GNI per capita runs $17,780 in Bulgaria against $25,360 in Greece; people live 75.8 years on average against 81.8; Numbeo users rate healthcare 58 against 59. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Bulgaria
41.6
Around the global middle
Greece
54.0
Worse than 75% of countries
Bulgaria: 23% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Bulgaria
11.1
Better than 68% of countries
Greece
13.7
Around the global middle
Bulgaria: 19% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Bulgaria
1.63
Better than 84% of countries
Greece
1.83
Better than 68% of countries
Bulgaria: more peaceful (1.63 vs 1.83).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Bulgaria
64.5
Better than 70% of countries
Greece
53.8
Around the global middle
Bulgaria: higher perceived safety (64.5 vs 53.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Bulgaria
0.845
Better than 71% of countries
Greece
0.908
Better than 83% of countries
Greece: higher human development (0.908 vs 0.845).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Bulgaria
$44,451
Better than 72% of countries
Greece
$45,264
Better than 72% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Bulgaria
75.8 yrs
Better than 57% of countries
Greece
81.8 yrs
Better than 82% of countries
Greece: 6.0 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Bulgaria
58.3
Worse than 67% of countries
Greece
58.9
Worse than 64% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Bulgaria
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Greece
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Bulgaria
60/100
Better than 60% of countries
Greece
55/100
Around the global middle
Bulgaria: freer press (60 vs 55 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Bulgaria
5.70
Worse than 58% of countries
Greece
5.70
Worse than 58% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Bulgaria
594
Better than 80% of countries
Greece
592
Better than 79% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Bulgaria
81.2
Around the global middle
Greece
93.0
Better than 84% of countries
Greece: more pleasant climate rating (93.0 vs 81.2).
Deciding between Bulgaria and Greece for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Bulgaria profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Greece profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.