The necessary monthly income for a family of three (two adults and one child under 14) is 1473 euros. This is according to data from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) for the first quarter of 2026, which were presented at a press conference. For a single working person, 818 euros are needed. The necessary income for maintenance increases by 2.3% on a quarterly basis and 5.2% on an annual basis.
In one year, 73 euros more are needed for a family of three, and for a single working person – 40 euros more, said the president of CITUB, Plamen Dimitrov.
More than half of the employed persons are insured on a lower income than the subsistence wage (58.3%), according to CITUB. The union pointed out as a positive trend that the total number of people in this group is decreasing on an annual basis. They believe that this is due to the general increase in incomes over the last 12 months. By the end of 2025, Bulgaria reached an income level of 68% of the average European values, the union noted. Citizens insured up to the amount of the minimum wage for full-time work represent 12.2% of all employed full-time (one in every eight people), the trade union organization added.
The annual growth continues for food products (6.2%), CITUB announced. According to the union's data, 329 euros are needed for a working person for food and public catering. There is a more serious increase on a quarterly basis in vegetables, fruits, bread, meat and eggs. There is also an increase in coffee.