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Daily Life in Bulgaria for Indian Students: Vegetarian Food, Groceries, Banks, SIM Cards and Transport

Most Indian students in Bulgaria cook for themselves. Bulgarian food is built on vegetables, white cheese, yoghurt and bread, which makes vegetarian cooking easy; Indian spices and groceries are harder to find, so most students bring a stock from home and order the rest online.

Leonid Kurza, founder of Edumapple

Written by Leonid Kurza, founder of Edumapple
Updated 23 October 2026 · how we check facts

Food

Supermarket chains such as Lidl, Kaufland and Billa are in every university city and carry rice, lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, paneer-like white cheese and yoghurt. We found no dedicated Indian grocery in Sofia, Plovdiv or Pleven; in Varna, the shop Sokoni sells Indian groceries and delivers. Basmati and some spices appear in supermarkets and Middle Eastern shops; for masalas and atta, students bring them from India or order online. Sofia has several Indian restaurants and Plovdiv at least one; we found none in Varna or Pleven.

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Money

Bulgaria uses the euro since 1 January 2026. Prices on older websites in leva convert at 1.95583 to the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities; keep some cash for markets and small shops. Fees to universities go by bank transfer to the university's account.

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We reply by phone or WhatsApp on the next working day. Counselling is free.

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Getting around

City buses and trams are cheap, and Sofia has a metro: a student card is €7.50 a month for all lines. Long-distance buses and trains connect the cities; buses are usually faster.

Documents to keep with you

  • Passport and residence card.
  • Student card from your university.
  • Health insurance details.

Questions about Daily life in Bulgaria

Is vegetarian food available in Bulgaria?

Yes. Shopska salad, bean soup, stuffed peppers, banitsa (cheese pastry) and yoghurt are everyday food. Ask about lard or meat stock in soups if you are strict.

Can I open a bank account as a student?

Yes, usually after you have your residence permit or with your passport and university certificate. Banks set their own documents; take the residence card and the address registration.

Which mobile networks are there?

Three main operators: A1, Yettel and Vivacom. Prepaid SIMs are sold with a passport.

Where these facts come from