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 for a three-person household (comprising two adults and one child under 14) is EUR 1,473. For a single employed person residing alone, the necessary income is EUR 818. Overall, the cost of living income saw a quarterly increase of 2.3% and rose 5.2% compared to the previous year.
CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov noted that the required income for a three-person household is projected to increase by EUR 73 over the next year, while the need for a single person is estimated to rise by EUR 40. CITUB reported that 58.3% of employees currently earn an income below the established cost of living wage. While this represents a significant portion of the workforce, the union noted a positive trend: the number of people in this category is decreasing year-on-year, attributed to general income growth over the last 12 months.
By the end of 2025, Bulgaria’s average income reached 68% of the EU average. Regarding daily expenses, food prices continue to increase annually by 6.2%. The union calculated that an individual person requires approximately EUR 329 per month solely for food and catering.
Quarterly increases were particularly noted in the costs of vegetables, fruit, bread, meat
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That figure suggests a significant cost of living burden for families.