Compare countries · Bulgaria vs Serbia
Bulgaria vs Serbia
Bulgaria(Europe)·
Serbia(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Bulgaria leads on 8, Serbia on 2, 3 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 Serbia?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Bulgaria at 41.6 and Serbia at 42.6. Bulgaria is about 2% cheaper overall.
Is Bulgaria or Serbia safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Bulgaria scores 1.63 and Serbia scores 1.92. Bulgaria ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Bulgaria or Serbia?
On the UN Human Development Index, Bulgaria scores 0.845 and Serbia scores 0.833. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Bulgaria compared to Serbia?
GNI per capita runs $17,780 in Bulgaria against $13,480 in Serbia; people live 75.8 years on average against 76.0; Numbeo users rate healthcare 58 against 52. 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
Serbia
42.6
Around the global middle
Bulgaria: 2% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Bulgaria
11.1
Better than 68% of countries
Serbia
13.1
Better than 56% of countries
Bulgaria: 15% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Bulgaria
1.63
Better than 84% of countries
Serbia
1.92
Better than 57% of countries
Bulgaria: more peaceful (1.63 vs 1.92).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Bulgaria
64.5
Better than 70% of countries
Serbia
63.0
Better than 67% of countries
Bulgaria: higher perceived safety (64.5 vs 63.0).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Bulgaria
0.845
Better than 71% of countries
Serbia
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Bulgaria
$44,451
Better than 72% of countries
Serbia
$33,910
Better than 65% of countries
Bulgaria: 31% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Bulgaria
75.8 yrs
Better than 57% of countries
Serbia
76.0 yrs
Better than 58% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Bulgaria
58.3
Worse than 67% of countries
Serbia
52.1
Worse than 87% of countries
Bulgaria: better-rated healthcare (58.3 vs 52.1).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Bulgaria
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Serbia
103 Mbps
Better than 58% of countries
Serbia: 9% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Bulgaria
60/100
Better than 60% of countries
Serbia
51/100
Worse than 58% of countries
Bulgaria: freer press (60 vs 51 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Bulgaria
5.70
Worse than 58% of countries
Serbia
6.69
Better than 80% of countries
Serbia: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.69 vs 5.70).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Bulgaria
594
Better than 80% of countries
Serbia
578
Better than 74% of countries
Bulgaria: stronger English proficiency (594 vs 578).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Bulgaria
81.2
Around the global middle
Serbia
82.7
Better than 56% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between Bulgaria and Serbia 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 Serbia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.