According to data presented by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) in the first quarter of 2026, the required cost of living income varies based on household size. For a three-person household, consisting of two adults and one child under 14, the necessary income is EUR 1,473. For a single employed person living alone, the required income stands at EUR 818.
CITUB noted that the cost of living income increased by 2.3% on a quarterly basis, marking a 5.2% increase year-on-year. Over the past year, the union stated that the necessary income rose by EUR 73 for a three-person household and EUR 40 for a single person. The union also reported that nearly 58.3% of employees currently earn an income below the established cost of living wage.
While this represents a significant portion of the workforce, CITUB noted a positive trend: the total number of underpaid individuals is decreasing year-on-year, attributed to general income increases over the last 12 months. By the end of 2025, Bulgaria’s income levels had reached 68% of the EU average. Data indicated that 12.2% of all full-time employees are insured at the minimum wage level.
Regarding daily expenses, food prices continue to rise annually by 6.2%. For one person, the estimated monthly expense for food and catering is EUR 329. The union highlighted that vegetables, fruit, bread, meat, eggs, and coffee prices all registered increases during the reporting period.
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