Low taxes, EU membership, Schengen access and affordable prices
For years, Bulgaria lived in the shadow of Europe’s bigger property markets – Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy. In 2025 and 2026, however, the country has established itself as one of the most attractive property markets in Europe for foreign buyers, combining affordability, stability, EU membership and a quality of life that Western Europe struggles to offer at a comparable price.
Property prices in Bulgaria grew by 11.6% year-on-year in 2024, outpacing many Western European countries. And despite this growth, Bulgaria remains the most affordable property market in the EU, with significant potential to reach Central and Eastern European price levels.
So what exactly lies behind this shift and why are foreign buyers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Israel and many other countries choosing Bulgaria over other European destinations?
1. Bulgaria Has the Most Affordable Property Prices in the EU
When analysing property prices, the picture is clear: Sofia at €2,100/m² is approximately 60% cheaper than Lisbon (€5,200/m²), 70% cheaper than Barcelona (€7,200/m²) and 50% cheaper than Prague (€4,500/m²).
Along the Black Sea coast where InterHomes builds its projects in Pomorie the situation is even more attractive for foreign buyers. Modern apartments with sea views are selling for €1,200–2,000 per square metre, a fraction of Mediterranean prices. To put this in perspective: for the price of a studio apartment in Barcelona, you can purchase a spacious two-bedroom apartment steps from the Black Sea in Pomorie in a brand new Class A building, with smart home technology, energy-efficient systems and panoramic views.
2. EU Membership
Bulgaria has been a full member of the European Union since 2007. This is a fundamental advantage that sets Bulgaria apart from other affordable markets outside the EU. For buyers from the EU, this means the full protection of European law applies to your purchase. For buyers from outside the EU, it means your investment sits within a stable, regulated and transparent legal framework with all the protections that come with European Union membership.
As of early 2026, Bulgaria imposes no foreign ownership quotas on apartments, meaning there is no limit on how many units in a building can be owned by foreigners. Bulgaria also has no mandatory government approval process for foreign property purchases, making the process faster and simpler compared to many other countries.
The combination of open access and EU-level legal protection makes Bulgaria one of the most accessible markets in Europe for foreign buyers.
3. The Euro: Currency Risk Eliminated
On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria officially joined the Eurozone. For foreign property buyers, this is a significant change. The adoption of the euro eliminates exchange rate risk for eurozone buyers and simplifies pricing.
For buyers from Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and other eurozone countries, purchasing property in Bulgaria now carries the same currency certainty as buying in Lisbon or Madrid. No exchange rate calculations, no uncertainty about what your asset is worth in euros next year.
4. Schengen – Freedom of Movement Without Border Controls
Bulgaria’s Schengen membership from late 2024 removes border controls and makes the country significantly more accessible and attractive for EU residents.
In practical terms: you fly into Burgas Airport from Frankfurt, Warsaw, London or Amsterdam and travel directly to your apartment in Pomorie. No border checks, no passport control, no unnecessary waiting. The same seamless freedom of movement that EU citizens already enjoy across the rest of Europe now applies to Bulgaria as well. For owners of vacation or investment properties, this is an advantage felt with every short visit.
5. Some of the Lowest Property Taxes in Europe
Bulgaria’s tax regime for property owners is one of the most competitive in the EU. Annual property tax in Bulgaria is remarkably low, between 0.01% and 0.45% of the assessed value, meaning an apartment owner pays between €50 and €200 per year before garbage collection fees. By comparison, a property owner in France or Germany pays annual taxes running into several thousand euros on a comparable asset.
Rental income tax is fixed at a flat 10%, regardless of residency status, significantly lower than in most Western European countries. For investors renting out a property along the Black Sea coast, these parameters apply whether you live in Bulgaria or abroad.
Capital gains on property are exempt from tax after three years of ownership, an additional incentive for long-term investors who purchase and subsequently sell.
6. Cost of Living: Lower Than Western Europe
Bulgaria consistently ranks among the lowest cost-of-living countries in the EU, a factor that directly affects the quality of life for those who live there.
Day-to-day expenses such as dining, groceries, transport and healthcare are lower than in Western European countries. Dinner for two at a good restaurant in Pomorie costs about the same as a round of coffees in central Amsterdam. This is one of the key drivers behind the growing wave of Western European retirees purchasing permanent homes along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
Read more in our article “A Foreigner Buying Property in Bulgaria: The Complete Guide to What You Need to Know.”
7. The Black Sea Coast
Within Bulgaria’s property market, the Black Sea coast occupies a special position. The coast is increasingly reinventing itself as a year-round destination. Towns such as Varna, Burgas, Sozopol and the surrounding areas are developing into fully functioning communities with growing infrastructure.
Pomorie, located 20 km from Burgas and 10 km from the international airport, is part of this shift. Unlike purely seasonal resorts, Pomorie functions year-round supported by balneological tourism, a permanent resident community and a well-developed urban infrastructure.
Why InterHomes in Pomorie
In this context, the InterHomes projects in Pomorie offer Class A new-build apartments in a growing, year-round Black Sea destination, at prices significantly below comparable properties in Western European markets.
Whether you are buying for personal use, for rental income or as a long-term investment in one of Europe’s most attractive property markets the case for Pomorie and for property in Bulgaria has never been so clear, so compelling and so transparent.
Explore the apartments at InterHomes and contact us for a free consultation.
