Remote work has become part of normal working life in Britain, with analysis of official surveys showing around 36 – 41% of UK workers now doing their jobs from home at least some of the week in 2024. At the same time, the average monthly cost of living for one person in Bulgaria is estimated at 961 USD, compared with 2,423 USD in the UK, a difference of about 60%. When you combine that cost gap with Bulgaria’s flat 10% tax rates, the bitcoin price usd, solid internet and the growing crypto undertaking, you start to see why more digital nomads are giving this corner of the EU a serious look.

Pounds In, Leva Out, Crypto On Top

If you earn in pounds but spend in leva, Bulgaria changes the maths of your day‑to‑day life. According to cost comparison site Livingcost.org, a single person needs around 961 USD per month in Bulgaria versus 2,423 USD (or equivalent GBP) in the UK, with big differences in rent, transport and eating out. That gap means you can cover your essentials comfortably and still have money left for travel, savings, or putting more into your crypto portfolio.

Tax policy adds another layer. Bulgaria applies a flat 10% personal income tax and a 10% corporate tax rate, which is among the lowest headline rates in the European Union. For a freelancer or small business owner who becomes tax resident, that predictability and simplicity can feel refreshing compared with more complex progressive systems.

Crucially, the practical side of remote work is supported by decent infrastructure. Data compiled by Statista from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index shows Bulgaria’s median fixed broadband speed at about 77.6 Mbps in 2023. City‑level figures are even stronger, with Speedgeo estimating Sofia’s average fixed broadband around 105 Mbps download, 76 Mbps upload and roughly 20 ms latency, which is more than enough for video calls, cloud tools and crypto trading platforms.

Put those pieces together and Bulgaria starts to look like a place where your income does more work for you. You’re not only shaving pounds off each monthly bill, you’re also buying the freedom to experiment more with investments, whether that means holding blue‑chip coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum or using DeFi lending protocols that saw total value locked grow around 72% this year. In that sense, relocation can double as an upgrade to your financial strategy, not just a change of scenery.

Here’s how the money side lines up in simple terms: Much lower typical living costs than the UK, flat 10% income and corporate tax, and fast, affordable internet combine to stretch your GBP income while keeping your crypto activity practical and accessible from Bulgaria.

The Crypto‑Curious Hub

Sofia doesn’t always feature in glossy “best nomad city” lists, yet the ecosystem on the ground has real substance. Regional tech analysis highlights more than 300 startups in the Bulgarian capital, with over 150 fintech companies nationwide and success stories such as Payhawk reaching unicorn status, alongside crypto‑adjacent firms like Nexo. That density of finance and tech talent naturally spills over into meetups, conferences and co‑working spaces where people openly discuss Web3, DeFi and digital assets.