Poverty and living standards in Sofia, Bulgaria: official figures
Courts imposed penalties for 2,129 crimes committed in Stolichna (Sofia) municipality in 2024 and convicted 1,912 people, 14.8 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 10.2% of those convicted were women.
How big are homes in Sofia?
Homes in Sofia offered 37.9 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 3rd most of 6 cities (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Sofia?
6,888 new dwellings were completed in Sofia in 2024, 5.32 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Sofia?
Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 774,748 dwellings at the end of 2024 with an average of 1.67 residents each (national 1.49); 9.3% were one-room homes and 38.7% had two rooms.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Sofia?
An apartment in Sofia cost €100,544 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Sofia?
38% of the 495,635 households in Sofia were people living alone in 2022, and 2.3% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in Sofia afford their bills?
In the EU's 2023 quality of life survey, 27% of residents of Sofia said they had difficulty paying their bills at the end of the month most of the time.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- People above working age made up 21.1% of the population of Stolichna (Sofia) municipality at the end of 2024 (national 26.4%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 42% of residents of Sofia agreed that it is easy to find good housing at a reasonable price. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 48% of residents of Sofia felt safe walking alone at night in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Sofia compares with other cities in Bulgaria
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Sofia ranks 6 of 6, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | City | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stara Zagora | 42.0 |
| 2 | Ruse | 38.0 |
| 3 | Burgas | 33.6 |
| 4 | Varna | 32.8 |
| 5 | Plovdiv | 30.9 |
| 6 | Sofia | 14.8 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Sofia ranks 3 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stara Zagora | 39.5 |
| 2 | Varna | 39.4 |
| 3 | Sofia | 37.9 |
| 4 | Burgas | 37.2 |
| 5 | Ruse | 34.9 |
| 6 | Plovdiv | 34.0 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Sofia ranks 3 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varna | 6.80 |
| 2 | Burgas | 5.59 |
| 3 | Sofia | 5.32 |
| 4 | Stara Zagora | 5.17 |
| 5 | Plovdiv | 4.36 |
| 6 | Ruse | 1.12 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Sofia ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | €100,544 |
| 2 | Varna | €56,384 |
| 3 | Burgas | €50,848 |
| 4 | Plovdiv | €47,250 |
| 5 | Stara Zagora | €33,438 |
| 6 | Ruse | €31,798 |
More on Sofia: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Bulgaria
Sources
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI): Regions, districts and municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria 2024 (yearbook tables by statistical region, district and municipality), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81cba27bb0cc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
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