Bulgaria Nears Completion of Leva Withdrawal as 81% Taken Out of Circulation
As of February 6, 2026, Bulgaria continues to make steady progress in withdrawing the national currency, the leva, from circulation.
Photo: Stella Ivanova
In the third quarter of 2024, housing prices in Bulgaria saw a notable rise of 16.5% compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistical Institute. When compared to the previous quarter, the increase was slightly below 4%, with the largest price jumps occurring in Sofia and Varna, where prices surged by over 5%.
The rise in housing prices was observed across both existing and newly built properties. Existing homes experienced a price increase of 3%, while new homes saw a sharper rise of 5.6%. Among the cities with the most significant price changes were Stara Zagora and Burgas, where prices increased by just over 4%.
However, Ruse was an exception, seeing a nearly 6% decline in housing prices. The Southeastern region recorded the highest price growth for new properties, with an increase approaching 7%.
Source: National Statistical Institute (NSI)
Two-room dwellings make up the largest portion of newly built homes in Bulgaria, according to data for the fourth quarter of 2025.
In 2024, about 68% of households across the European Union were owner-occupied, a slight decline from 69% in 2023, according to Eurostat data. The remaining 32% of the EU population lived in rented homes, up from 31% the previous year.
Bulgaria is facing a sharp rise in construction material costs, which experts warn will drive property prices higher. Svetoslav Zhekov, chairman of the Chamber of Builders in Varna
As Bulgaria enters its first full year in the eurozone, the real estate market in Sofia begins 2026 with a shift from rapid, speculative growth to more stable, needs-driven demand.
Choosing between renting and buying a home is a decision that goes far beyond personal preference.
Bulgaria is entering a new phase in its housing market, with analysts predicting the end of the “panic” buying that fueled double-digit price increases in 2024 and 2025.
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