Bulgaria is gone for affordable holidays. People in Balcic for Labor Day holiday are complaining about the prices in a standard terrace, that would put much fancier destinations like Greece or Italy to shame. Euro adoption is showing its consequences
Posted by eferalgan@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 229 comments
Link of the post is here: https://www.facebook.com/574538946/posts/pfbid0SMcv5v2SFfrmF5drRU1mn9RHnBmpGWh8dJBdmuayXhzqr7AhceUjKHa3vMqVuaU6l/
Boring_Newspaper_551@reddit
The prices were going crazy even before the euro, which is why I've mainly stuck to cooking at home, not ordering food. Did wonders for my wallet.
gutag@reddit
Prices in Tenerife
zpetar@reddit
In Bulgaria price of cheap Tuborg is almost same as Erdinger or Paulanr in Tenerife 😬
gutag@reddit
A tek da vidiš kako je hrana jeftina. I nevjerojatno ukusna. A ostrvo nerealno lijepo. Bio sam 2 puta zadnjih pola godine i planiram uskoro opet ako Bog da.
zpetar@reddit
Raj na zemlji. Večito proleće
gutag@reddit
Eh tu se ne bih složio. Na 18 stepeni sam izgorio za manje od 2 sata. Sunce, tj uv zračenje je užasno jako tamo. Balkanskih 20ak stepeni i njihovih su dva različita pojma.
gutag@reddit
gutag@reddit
Amd you get amazing view
dwartbg9@reddit
And you think the view at the Bulgarian coastline will be ugly or what?
gutag@reddit
I have been many times in Bulgaria. Especially at coastline. Sorry but Tenerife are paradise compared to it.
Capable_Studio_6631@reddit
Looks like someone excavated and left poop on the beach.
kaiser_vfe@reddit
View wise I would argue that Bulgaria is better, but thats just an opinion
nobody1568@reddit
6.2€ for 330 ml of Heineken.
We are in the end of times for real.
zpetar@reddit
Almost 5 for 0.5 Tuborg. In Serbia I can buy 0.5 Tuborg for 0.64 Euro in supermarket.
wasted_wonderland@reddit
Why should it be less because it's in Bulgaria? It's a foreign beer. If anything the wholesale price is higher because Bulgaria is a small market. Local beer is ceeper and better.
hihimorius@reddit
The foreign beers are made in Bulgaria, read the labels, lol.
Several-Zombies6547@reddit
Bulgarian Heineken is produced and bottled locally under license, so it's not really "foreign".
mjau-mjau@reddit
Because most of the price are overheads and labour. A Heineken in Switzerland has to cover the server who makes about 10x as much as one in Bulgaria. The rent (and other expenses) will also be higher in say Switzerland so that will also be reflected in the higher price for the customer.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
True that!
do4o@reddit
The day I pay 4€ for Shumensko 0.33cl is the day the world ends.
Squat_TheSlav@reddit
So like, in a couple of weeks? Shall I clear my schedule?
Mike_for_all@reddit
Also in Bulgaria
snubb@reddit
How is that the currency's fault?
One_Conversation3886@reddit
This was literally the one thing that could have made me go back to this shit hole.
intHP@reddit
I work in a regional food distribution company. We get food from producers and national importers and then distribute it to the local shops restourants hotels etc.
This isn't really something new the constant rising of food prices in Bulgaria started rising in the post covid inflation and haven't stopped since regardless of euro.
In much worse ways than the consumer even realizes. For example, just one - first they rise the price of let's say mozzarella cheese, then within 3 - 6 months they don't rise the price again, but lower the quantity from 125 grams standard to 100 grams standard (the already raised price stays the same) and then in 3 - 6 months raise the price again.
Now from this you can infer that there is clearly a monopoly/cartel happening, how do they all (supposedly competitors btw) raise their prices at exactly the same time and lower the volume sold 5 months later again at exactly the same time.
When people point to Bulgarian prices rising they often point to food - and they are right. But not because of the euro, but because we have a food cartel that has not stopped rising prices since 2022 and no government that we have had has tackled it in any way. I hope the new one, after it gets established, really look at what is going on in the food industry.
That-Wrangler-7484@reddit
It won't do anything. One of the "new" politicians was on BNT (the state television) a couple of days ago and basically said - Well, the inflation it's a pity for sure but we live in a market economy so there is nothing we can do to lower the prices. 😁
I really cannot understand how people voted for Radev believing he will.do anything different than the others in the first place but that's on me.
dorostol4o@reddit
Будала човек и вързано куче го хапе, маняк.
LopsidedEmu5928@reddit
This is anti UE and anti EUROPE propaganda. YESTERDAY i just returned from Bulgaria. Everything is normal as usual... This picture is circulating all over Facebook.... One picture from one exclusivist restaurant....
Certain-Use-2149@reddit
You left YESTERDAY, but i live here EVERYDAY and this is not propaganda. There is a sharp price increase in the service industry, only the big food retailers are mostly keeping the price. From my yearly car check, to doctor appointments the increase is from 20% to 60% in four months. If you don't believe it, go to the r/bulgaria and see. Adopting the euro was just a nice excuse and it worked.
LopsidedEmu5928@reddit
You are confused. This situation is worldwide. It's because of the international situation. We are all affected. But, as always, poors will be more affected than rich....
dorostol4o@reddit
He is confused because he's прост.
Лъгаха ви, че липсата на образование няма да има последствие в живота ви и вие им вярвахте, сега се вайкайте в редит.
terra_filius@reddit
why have prices increased in the rest of the world too then? Because Bulgaria adopted the Euro ?
Certain-Use-2149@reddit
"Adopting the euro was just a nice excuse and it worked." -regarding increasing prices and happy highest inflation in the Eurozone.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
😂 😂 😂 Russians must be the ones putting those high prices. 😂 😂 😂
JakeTheAndroid@reddit
The prices are not that high on average. That's the point. You can find scummy restaurants everywhere. It has nothing to do with the euro. I'm at the black sea right now and I have been getting beers for half the price of those. If you go to a tourist trap, expect to pay a lot of money. You admit you're not even there to validate this and took it from Facebook, so why are you in the comments defending something you can't prove when people in Bulgaria are saying it's bullshit?
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Since when Balcic is a tourist trap? Be serious… only Romanians go there because of the castle. I have been to Bulgaria many times, except Romanians nobody goes there, especially on labour day…
JakeTheAndroid@reddit
That restaurant is clearly a trap based on the prices. You can find these places everywhere near the black sea. And if they know foreigners are going to be around on a given day or period, then they know when they can jack up prices. Also, Balchik is actually pretty popular, it not some hidden place only Romanians know about. It's one of the places people recommend visiting near Varna. Further, how do you even know this is actually in Balchik? It could be from anywhere. It could be in Sunny Beach or Sozopol. And, if it's actually in Balchik and not a tourist trap, it could be an upscale restaurant, although that seems less likely.
I haven't paid anything close to those prices in Nessebar, nor do I even see those prices in Sofia. So regardless of where that picture was actually taken, it's absolutely NOT the norm. Prices have gone up since the Euro, but not that drastically. Either this person got pegged as an easy mark to scam, the place is a trap, or this is bs.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
It is Balcic…people on Facebook even posted pictures from there, pictures with the castle…
JakeTheAndroid@reddit
okay, then they got got. they went to a place that knows they can charge tourists more money because they'll pay it not realizing that actual local prices. It's not uncommon on the black sea, there are tons of places even in smaller towns.
Defiant-Dare1223@reddit
Can't you be against both like any sane person
Repulsive_List8582@reddit
Greece is cheaper at most of its seaside now than Bulgaria Black Sea. Even if it’s a little bit higher at some places (I don’t talk for Mykonos Santorini etc ) the quality is day vs night comparing to Bulgaria. Even in Burgas in Aleksandrovska an ice cappuccino (which is crap comparing to Greece) is 5 euros lol!!!! And this is NOT euro adoption no, it is just the passive Bulgarians that allow their government , mafia and mafia businesses to over profit. They just sit and watch their country being slowly destroyed for years now and they do absolutely nothing about it. Lately they voted for their ex president to be prime minister only that he is playing with Boyko Borisov behind the scenes and all “mechanisms” and stealing will remain the same. Well go to Greece, Italy and Turkey
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
To be fair, I actually enjoyed Goldensands
Repulsive_List8582@reddit
If you are young and you want to drink get drugs etc you go to golden sands in Bulgaria. Same like every country has places to gather such young people Greece has for example Malia in Crete, Laganas in Zakynthos, Faliraki in Rhodes etc etc. same shit ..get drunk and high and fuck few chicks every night
dwartbg9@reddit
It really shows you definitely have a wrong impression about Golden Sands. How many times have you stepped foot there recently? The place has a bit of everything for everyone, it's not just for partying. If anything it's way too family friendly nowadays.
Repulsive_List8582@reddit
Judging from the fact that I have an apartment in Burgas…more than enough times :)
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
After reading this, I just realized that I haven’t enjoyed Goldensands 😂
If I would have known
Comprehensive-Bike36@reddit
I saw those prices last year and the year before that. This has nothing to do with the Euro, but with the fact, that the whole tourism industry is owned by the mafia and that people pay those prices.
dwartbg9@reddit
Not true, at all.
Yes, this is sadly the absolute truth. And the main issue why scammers like that continue abusing tourists.
Comprehensive-Bike36@reddit
Tf you mean not true As if there aren't tens/hundreds of journalistic reports about the owners of those hotel chains.
TIM basically bought most of Varna's first line beaches. The southern golden dunes were bulldozed and because bulldozed golden dunes aren't "protected areas" the government went: "Oopsie, guess we can sell em"
Also let's not mention all of the resorts owned just by the Russians where even they openly admitted that they indirectly control everything...
But sure, not true at all...
dwartbg9@reddit
Yes, some hotel chains. Not ALL hotels at our almost 400 km coastline where we have so many resorts, towns and whatnot. Also even then, prices in some of these chains are actually fairly decent.
And more about the Russians - if anything we are lucky that our mafia managed to kick them out back in the early 90s. Back then the proper Russian mafia really put their eyes on our coastline and wanted to literally conquer it, knowing that Bulgaria is in a state of anarchy after the fall of communism. But our infamous mafia factions managed to stop them, so at least we had the better part of the shit hahah. Still shit, but better than being almost literally occupied by Russian mobsters that would have probably destroyed our coastline back then.
f1zo@reddit
Our corrupt government adopted the Euro without asking us…. Never adopt the Euro if you haven’t already.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Have no fear, we are nowhere near in fulfilling the criteria. Our politicians are too busy fighting amongst themselves
f1zo@reddit
We didn’t meet the criteria as well. All was fabricated and faked.
dwartbg9@reddit
Source:
www.trustmebro.com
KIG45@reddit
I don't understand the Bulgarians who criticize you. Everything has become terribly expensive. Even my mechanic friends are already charging triple! This year I booked a one-bedroom apartment on our Black Sea coast and for under 100 euros per night you can't find anything decent. I didn't want something nice and modern, just clean and pleasant. Last summer the prices were 100 leva each! Exactly 100% increase. I don't even want to think about what budget I should have for daily expenses. I think 200 euros per day won't be enough and that's outrageous.
This is the last time I'm going to our sea and I'm doing it only because of my little daughter. We go on vacation in Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and everywhere is nicer and cheaper.
For God's sake, last year we were in Barcelona for 10 days and it's cheaper there than in Bulgaria.
This is crazy!
terra_filius@reddit
show me evidence of 100% increase in prices in the last 12 months, if you dont have then shut up
KIG45@reddit
If you don't see them yourself, then you are quite deluded. Look around, absolutely everything is shockingly expensive. Maybe you don't live?
dwartbg9@reddit
Show us the booking.com listing, or however you booked your hotel, for example.
Since I did the same thing, and I hardly noticed an increase in hotel prices. Yes, there's some increase but it's the same as every year.
maximhar@reddit
Bulgarian restaurants and hotels have been getting more expensive for years. It’s not the Euro, it’s the lack of working age people + raising the minimum wage .
ValtenBG@reddit
So the business owners raise the prices to keep the people on min wage fucked
dwartbg9@reddit
No.... Raising the minimum wage raises ALL salaries accordingly obviously. That's why the minimum wage exists in a way. And hence these idiots have a good (and technically fair) reason, to raise the prices.
They now have the excuse: - We had to raise the salaries of our employees
and
walleryana@reddit
I remember when they reduced their VAT as a Covid measure, but the prices just kept increasing while evading taxes. Richard Alibegov can kiss my hairy ass.
JebacBiede2137@reddit
So Bulgaria is more expensive because of euro than countries that have adopted euro?
Okay makes perfect sense
BChicken420@reddit
All the TV channels were blasting non-stop how prices will not change.
ConinTheNinoC@reddit
Prices will change for the worse, especially since the Orange one in the USA and his war are causing chaos with the world markets. Prices also changed with the Small one in Russia attacking Ukraine. So we have two wars around the world back to back destabilizing trade.
If you really want to blame someone, it is the Orange one and the Small one that should be blamed.
ThickArt6492@reddit
Honestly, I totally support the idea of scamming the tourists, but only if you keep prices for locals lower.
salivok_12234@reddit
same price in Budapest, anything fancy could be even more expensive, dutch tourists dutch prices (no offence to western europeans but they keep these holiday destinations going)
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Nothing fancy here, actually it was kind of a dump
HorrorsPersistSoDoI@reddit
Just don't visit. Not saying this to deter you, but the fucking tourist mafia needs to die
Bitter_Quiet_4771@reddit
Welcome to euro brothers...
UzayK@reddit
Not really? Milan and Rome terrace prices are still double of this
bagpulistu@reddit
That's BS, it's not because of the euro. With an exchange rate of 1.95 leva for 1 euro rounding up to the nearest 50 cents loses you just 2.5%. Also in Balcic euros were accepted almost everywhere even before joining the Euro. That's just tourist traps jacking up prices on tourists once a place becomes more popular.
Check next year's inflation data and you'll see it doesn't differ much from the previous 5 years. There was literally no country that experienced higher inflation after joining the Euro than before. All experienced similar inflation or lower. ALL. Check it.
The effect of oil prices is independent of the euro introduction, so that should be accounted for.
Yeah, there might be some or the other coffee shop doubling prices on coffee. But how much of your income do you spend on coffee in cafes? That's insignificant. Big ticket items such as real estate, rent and cars convert to the official exchange rate.
EmilZeBag@reddit
Sorry, but we need the place. Compare to Mykonos prices for instance.
Young_Owl99@reddit
For Turks that’s cheap.
Falkenayn@reddit
Yeah but there is like how much tax on alcohol.
terra_filius@reddit
you should not have adopted the Euro
BamBumKiofte23@reddit
These prices are okay compared to Greece though. They'll soon get smarter and round them up instead of all that .17/.97/.37 gore.
beloikurvi@reddit
Greece has every right to have a tad higher priced tho, being in Greece and being in Bulgaria are 2 different things. I am Bulgarian to clarify
BamBumKiofte23@reddit
I mean... all the power to you if Greece is what you fancy. I'm sick and tired of Halkidikí but Bulgarians love it and they probably see something in it that I don't, or basically something that I feel is long gone -- I practically grew up there and really dislike what it has turned into.
Different strokes for different folks. Plus Balcic looks cool when I look it up.
beloikurvi@reddit
Everything happening with the prices is due to abysmal rise in electricity prices. Other than that Bulgaria is cool and all but prices are nowhere near to what they gotta be. A minimum wage is 620€, a two room flat is 600-650€, make it make any sense
BamBumKiofte23@reddit
Looks like we share complaints and a border.
BuenosNachos4180@reddit
I will never understand how people can watch what happened in places like France and Italy and still think adopting the EUR is a good idea for such a low income country.
jacknell2@reddit
The problem is not the euro adoption. The problem is rather control. At present there isn’t a single government body that is controlling the prices or observing the trends like in Croatia. 1 euro used to be 1.95 levs. Merchants are just changing the old prices of levs to euros (pretty much doubling) and people due to the lack of trust in government don’t have any means to complain.
The same phenomenon happened around Covid when the price of fuel increased due to speculation and pretty much instantly price of everything increased and stayed that way.
Euro adoption is just an excuse not a reason for price increase.
dobrits@reddit
The will round them down right? Right?
Apatride@reddit
Just like they rounded them down for rents. A 1000BGN rent now costs 600 euros...
vaniot2@reddit
More like, 3,78 rounds up to a good round 5,00 is what happened here.
asdfghjk01234@reddit
And don't get me started on the exponential round up that happened here e.g. with the 100 drachmas prices that instead of 0,30 € went to 1 euro (340 drachmas) in a few days during the transition...
Greek_Bodybuilder995@reddit
Of course they will.
Suitable-Decision-26@reddit
Phew, I was worried.
TeneBrifer@reddit
Laugh in capitalist
BamBumKiofte23@reddit
Brother, you know this question is pointless. Of course they will round them up and not down.
Several-Zombies6547@reddit
These prices are NOT okay compared to Greece.
Bubolinobubolan@reddit
This is at least de jure illegal
throwraislander@reddit
6.20 ΕUR for a 0.33 Heineken is extreme in Greece also.
In a restaurant a 0.5 would cost 4.5-6 EUR.
casual_philosopher02@reddit
uhm in Syros last year I got Mamos hlf liter from the barrel for 4 euros, the other brands were 3,5
these are worse than many places in Greece, I got a Heineken at a tavern last Saturday, 5 euros yes, but not the 330mls one....
ssew67@reddit
They haven't rounded them up because all businesses are legally obligated to maintain their original pre-conversion prices during the transition period.
BamBumKiofte23@reddit
Sounds fair, thank you for the explanation.
Surfer_Rick@reddit
This is more expensive than Crete during high season.
Corrupt Bulgarians profiteering off a crooked exchange rate.
nilastani@reddit
Why does everything have “7” at the end?
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
No idea, is probably the terrace owner's lucky number
Public-Base2933@reddit
More expensive than Vienna
sta6gwraia@reddit
We warned you.
Icy_Background_6044@reddit
Tourist places have always been on the higher price rates for years...do people really believe this is all around the country..I was recently in Sofia and got the same beer for like 1.5 euro ..some were 2 2.50..
thanasis87kav@reddit
haadyy@reddit
Balchik restaurant owners love cosplaying Saint-Tropez restaurant owners... Only they forget that their target demographic doesn't want to play that game...
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Is not a restaurant and is nowhere close to Sain-Tropez. Is actually a dump, which makes the situation amazing even more
haadyy@reddit
Well. I am from around there and know a restaurant owner or five. I am not joking when I say what they envinson their ideal clientele to be. The fact that it is as far as, is just the cherry on top.
Top_Minute_433@reddit
Кой по дяволите им е ценообразувал на тия цените?! Не знам дали е реално едно нещо да е 5-6 пъти по-скъпо в заведение.
greenandpurple26@reddit
we have these prices in Romania without euro. Its greed not euro.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I guess these people went to this specific terrace last year and are comparing prices
terra_filius@reddit
enough with your anti-Euro posts and comments, you are getting ridiculous. Prices have been going up in the whole fucking world, including your own country without adopting the Euro. Maybe the US have adopted the Euro too ?
PhastasFlames@reddit
It’s greed. Regardless, you can’t ignore the fact that a yogurt that was 0.97 lev at a Bulgarian corner store all of a sudden became 1.5 euro days after the euro was adopted.
greenandpurple26@reddit
The owner took advantage of the switch to the Euro to raise prices. As I said, greed is to blame. The same thing happens here in Romania; every time tax hikes are announced or inflation is high, they use it as an excuse to increase prices by much more than is normal.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Sure, that’s exactly what it is. But using the Euro adoption excuse, makes it a problem generated by euro adoption
kennyHS@reddit
Amazing logic, much akin to "people wouldn't die of they weren't born first"
One-Feature971@reddit
Finally someone who understands this! No, the euro adaptation has not directly affected the raising prices - exactly the greed of owners wanting to raise their prices is what is happening. If you can prove that this is the case, there has been a special signal created that you can send and the business will get inspected. In the first few months I read that 100s of businesses had already been fined for adjusting the prices too much.
Furthermore, the war in the middle east did not help inflation and neither has the weather last year and this year. Last year, lots of flooding and draught, and now we also just had minus degrees after a long warmer period, which again, will fuck up the crops and therefore raise the prices.
BKrustev@reddit
You say greed of the owners, but it's greed all along the line. The producers raise the prices, the suppliers raise them and that forces even non-greedy owners to do the same.
asdfghjk01234@reddit
Yeah, but when you adapt the euro this greed will cause an additional exponential round up at the prices. That's what happened here.
Defiant-Dare1223@reddit
That's only slightly cheap for Switzerland
SrboBleya@reddit
Switzerland hasn't had a runaway inflation compared to the rest of Europe. Central bankers there actually give a crap or two for the people compared to governments almost anywhere else.
Yes, business owners will increase prices to fight inflation if their 1) business costs are rising 2) their cost of living is rising. So if we don't want this happen, central bankers need to do a better job and look up to Switzerland.
BudgetWorking2633@reddit
Prices are you in the whole world, dude. Did you adopt the Euro, too? You should, it's a good currency, THE BEST one!
Acework23@reddit
yes, we are in fact fucked, good thing we go to Greece anyways
Such-Distribution440@reddit
When you adopt the euro. It seems most places of business look at it from the last price they had, let’s 4 BGN now it’s 4 EUR instead it being 2 EUR. Same happened in Germany when pay went from 4K DM to 2k EUR but purchasing power did not equal what was before.
rintzscar@reddit
Stop spreading dumb shit, these were the prices before we adopted the euro. It's simply a tourist trap and the owners are making bank.
do4o@reddit
Bruh, I paid 2.90€ for Stella in a garage converted to a "restaurant" in Gagarin, Plovdiv, where no tourist has ever been. Before euro it was 2.40lv.
rintzscar@reddit
No, it wasn't. The fact that you imagine prices and don't understand how inflation is calculated is entirely your problem.
KIG45@reddit
Are you serious? Or are you pretending not to understand? It is complete madness to claim that prices have not changed since the introduction of the euro, when tomatoes on the market cost 8 euros. Are you serious?
Yesterday, a friendly family on their way back from Lukovit paid over 40 euros for 6 kg of watermelon, a box of apricots and a box of strawberries. Explain this to me! Life is currently more than 2 times more expensive than 6 months ago.
The euro is a slave system, you will have nothing and you will be happy!
evalalave@reddit
Somebody forgot to drink his pills 😑
KIG45@reddit
You, on the other hand, are sufficiently irradiated.
evalalave@reddit
Not my dude, I drink my Rad-X on the regular.
rintzscar@reddit
Yes, I am completely serious. The fact that you double down with your bullshit lies is exactly why propaganda flourishes.
Go finish 12 years in school first. I'm not going to explain Economics to illiterates.
The only slave system here is your brain slaving to pathetic propaganda that a halfwit 5-year-old could see through.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
TheRCHbby@reddit
Keep in mind that the affordability does not come from restaurant prices and beer prices. It mostly comes from affordable/cheap flights and hotels on all inclusive. Also , this picture is just greed , not actual prices. I can show you places where owners keep the prices low to be able to have as many people as possible.
Source: holiday rep for 8 years in the busiest Bulgarian resort
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I know, been to Bulgaria couple of times and it has been great. All inclusive, same hotel which I liked, food maybe could be better, but good for the price paid. I don’t know that within the current inflation environment, tax increases, and euro adoption in case of Bulgaria, that won’t be the case anymore
terra_filius@reddit
why are you so fucking obsessed with us and our currency ?
seekTheTruth247@reddit
Yes. Purely driven by greed. The price hikes after the euro adoption are ungrounded.
CtrlAltDesolate@reddit
The euro isn’t to blame - greed, inflation and Trump Co’s stupid wars pushing up prices on everything are.
People need to stop blaming the euro for everything. It’s boring and wrong.
KIG45@reddit
It's not wrong, it's the truth. I saw and experienced the exchange of the peseta for the euro in Spain, and it ruined a golden country!
terra_filius@reddit
sure buddy, if you still had the peseta you would have been a world power now
BKrustev@reddit
It's not euro adoption, just stupidity and global rise of prices.
CommunicationNo4547@reddit
Well its exactly what Croatia did, was just an excuse to raise prices
deyannn@reddit
Like others have said, it's not due to the currency change.
Yes, it's getting more expensive. Last year I was getting bashed for saying that Greece doesn't really sound so expensive anymore (especially, factoring in the better service, easier driving and better beaches).
The thing is everything has been getting expensive lately. The min salary growth impacts the bottom line of the restaurant mafia.
When the Iran war started and Bulgarian tourists were stranded, the local joke was that they deserve it for cheaping out Vs a holiday in Velingrad (local spa location).
The Artemis 2 flight was 4 bln USD for only 9 days. For this amount they could have spent 2 whole weeks In Velingrad.
Yes the prices are going up (especially in the service Industry), but the euro transition is a very small contributor.
SpaceAnabasis@reddit
Welcome to the Euro. In my country, when we adopted it (2001 i believe), everything was rounded up like really high.
Our currency was called «pesetas» (Spain). Well, 1€ was 160 pesetas so every item that costed 100 pesetas was rounded up to 1€.
rintzscar@reddit
That's complete nonsense. Stop spreading bullshit.
SpaceAnabasis@reddit
Where is the nonsense in what i said? I am talking about what happened in my country, Spain.
Of course you know better, right? Maybe you can ask just one of the thousands of your countrymen that are working here
rintzscar@reddit
Everything is nonsense about what you said. Literally none of your statement is true. It's entirely fictional. A lie.
Yes, I know better, because I work with data, not with anecdotes.
Here's Spain's inflation rate data:
https://www.inflationtool.com/rates/spain/historical
After you adopted the euro, inflation FELL. It was lower than before the euro.
Stop lying everywhere you go. It's disgusting.
SpaceAnabasis@reddit
Once again, I’m talking about what i lived and saw. Enough with the politeness: fuck off stupid idiot
KIG45@reddit
I can confirm, I lived in Madrid from 1999 to 2010 and the euro ruined Spain.
In 5 years everything went down the drain! And in 2008 we know what happened.
polenta2025@reddit
Beer in restaurants is a scam. Rakia is still affordable, recommend it
Sashpeto@reddit
I'd agree with you if you show actually expensive prices ... That's literally years old prices at the coastal or mountain resorts you are showing here .
It's not cheap but it's been like that for a long time .
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
8€ a beer is not expensive?
Sashpeto@reddit
At resorts here ?
It's expensive but those are also prices from before covid that have nothing to do with the Euro .
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I have been to Bulgaria a couple of times, in Goldensands, stayed at Melia. Didn’t ever payed 8€ for a beer
Sashpeto@reddit
And how much did you pay . 5-6€
I haven't been at local resort for years cause of the absurd prices . So while I don't disagree it's expensive it's just been like that for years and blaming it on Euro is just false .
Tho I'm sure they gonna raise them even more this year ...
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I remember that I had the all inclusive package and I didn’t pay anything inside the hotel, outside the resort at the beach or on the street the prices were reasonable
Sashpeto@reddit
Shota ware between 2.50 and 5 euro in 2019 and beer was also super expensive. They had 2shots and 2 beers for 10€ which was some super deal everyone was buying .
And don't get me started on food cause it was even more ridiculous
Cheap fish hitting 25€ killo and fries for 5€ a portion
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
In Balcic
DJ_BIG_VIC@reddit
Nothing to do with the Euro FFS! Its all greed greed greed.
I firmly believe though in a year or so the prices will stabilize due to supply and demand.
dpenchev@reddit
5€ for a beer. Blame it on the owner for charging 2 times the price? Nah, better put it on the euro.
Halfwits, like you, are beyond saving
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Moron, I translated the text from the post. Facebook has an included translator, but I guess is too hard for you to open the link
rintzscar@reddit
You translated a moronic post. What does that make you?
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I would be embarrassed to be you…
rintzscar@reddit
You couldn't be me even if you finished reading every book in your local library (a place I'm sure you've never set foot in) for the next 15 years, my illiterate friend.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
dpenchev@reddit
Too bad facebook doesn't have an integrated thinker too. It would do wonders for you
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
It seems that your intelligence has been DP-ed, not just your name
dpenchev@reddit
Excuse me, was this a try to come up with a pun? Should i be offended by that? Are you 14 or something?
FirstIdChoiceWasPaul@reddit
I just had a bear near the colosseum. The wife had a caffe latte. 10 euros total. It felt so cheap, I left 15. 😂😂
By the way, if you think those prices are insane, go to Bucharest. I almost can’t afford a vacation (or simply going out) in Romania anymore.
I’m going to have to start doing what the other poor people do, and vacation in Dubai, Saint Tropez or the Swiss Alps. :(
NoSync22@reddit
I can’t see a menu showing older prices in that post, though. So we are comparing current prices of one specific place to what, his memories?
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Bulgaria has always been an affordable tourist destination. Maybe half price than Greece and even more than half when comparing to Italy, Spain.
North-Library4037@reddit
That has nothing to do with adopting the euro. We've been seeing those posts where people complain prices are going up every year 🙄 Yet, you still go to those tourist traps.
Inner-Silver9898@reddit
Braindead take as usual
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Whilst your comment shows real intelligence…
Yeazy_z@reddit
Its the seaside, ofc they will overprice these stuff
Korin23@reddit
It’s not the euro it’s the greed of people who own business on the seaside, honestly since years Bulgarians are saying that 1 week in Greece is similar to prices in Bulgaria, however in Greece you can get beaches where you have space to breathe, that’s why many of us love northern Greece so much. Honestly I hope those businesses finally see that one of the reasons people enjoy is affordability and go back to that, so atlesst the win some of the locals back.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Let me tell you, they care about the locals just like they care about foreign tourists. The only thing they care about is money
Lesnar123456@reddit
Ikr. I work as a pharmacist and we change prices(rising them, ofc) almost every single day!
Everyone just went greed mode - it's pathetic. Nobody cares. People, especially pensioners are getting priced out.
AccomplishedPie5160@reddit
Just buy from the supermarkets and order glovo.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
HabemusAdDomino@reddit
It's very simple. They're competing for the same tourists, who have the same wallets. If tourist Hans is willing to pay 5 euro to the Greek or Spaniard for a beer, why would the Romanian, Bulgarian or Macedonian settle for less?
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Hans has deeper pockets than Ion or Ivan. Bigger income, can afford those beers more easily
dntnsv@reddit
Balchik has been ridiculously expensive so nice forever, especially at the alley by the sea (a.k.a. Dambata). My mother is born there so I spent a lot of time throughout the years and prices are eye watering. So let's not blindly blame the euro, instead of standard human greed. The moment we stop paying these prices and vendors start going out of business, prices will naturally come down.
KIG45@reddit
Точно, просто не сядайте никъде където цените а безумни.Практикувам това отдавна и не само в заведения.
bulgarianlily@reddit
Two nice cappuccino. 3 euros for both. Today, town of Gotse Delchev.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Those look good
AnythingOk5@reddit
We are now a rich developed country. We don't work, instead we import people from Bangladesh and Nepal to work for us 💪
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Awesome 😂
Llama_BG@reddit
This has nothing to do with the euro. Governments have been running record budget deficits for years, and the cost of every type of service is skyrocketing. The anti‑competitive agency isn’t taking any action to prevent price speculation.
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
How can you impose as government, price limits in hospitality business? This is regulated by the market and competition
MaxSch@reddit
I don't think this should be blamed on the euro either. It's been like this even pre-Covid and things got even worse in the last few years - the prices go up each summer, but in the same time the quality hasn't improved at all, or it actually became much more unsatisfactory. Even if this increase wasn't because of the euro, I bet this year everything's going to be even more expensive because of it. There are a few gems along the Bulgarian coast which are definitely worth it, but generally I wouldn't consider Bulgaria as a good beach destination.
Source: I am Bulgarian and grew up on the beach
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Slowly but surely, Bulgarian Black Sea tourism is turning into Romanian Mamaia tourism …
scales_and_fangs@reddit
Oh, dear, I am afraid it has nothing to do with the euro. Prices have always been weird in some places at some resorts.
Lewhbo@reddit
If the consumption goes down, the prices will go down as well. These high prices only show that people are willing to spend no matter what. Yes, everyone complains, but in the end they all end up paying the ridiculous prices. Beers and resorts are kind of luxury spending, yet we see what’s going on. Perhaps that all tells you that these same people are also earning well. Isn’t this a sign of booming economy then?
19SlimShady90@reddit
8€ for a beer hahah.
morbihann@reddit
It has nothing to do with the euro you dimwit. It is just plain old greed.
Steel_and_Water83@reddit
Wowzer. I remember my uncle paying 15 Leva for one, although that was back in 1994 (we holidayed from England)
morbihann@reddit
The money changed quite a few years ago.
1000 leva became 1 lev essentially
cursorcube@reddit
Those 15 leva would've been equal to 15000 leva by 1997 because of the inflation
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
I wrote what they are saying in the post. Use the translator if you can’t read
morbihann@reddit
"They" are not the arbiter of truth. What "they" say is their opinion.
Responsible-Plum-199@reddit
Most Romanians think they are much better than Bulgaria's euro, Romanias population is more backwards than in Bulgaria shoudl not surprise you is a suvernaist post
eferalgan@reddit (OP)
Of course, same as your opinion
PoweredbyAndroid@reddit
Don't blame it on the euro. It's pure greed from the sellers, restaurants, etc. Our new government have sill not started working so no control of any kind and it's a free for all.
Rubicon2-0@reddit
You mean that if EURO was not adopted their greed will continue?
Promethevz@reddit
Yes.
ostrichConductor@reddit
It would just not in the same way. People are underestimating the psychological effects when changing currency. 1 euro is close to 2 leva, but it doesn't FEEL that way and as absurd it sounds, this affects the market. Business owners don't like the feeling of losing money and very much like the feeling of making money. These are both reasons why a price like 8.72 very quickly becomes 8.99.
Suitable-Decision-26@reddit
Not that they will cintrol anything when they start. It is not up to them
Pie_Dealer_co@reddit
Well its capitalism... this is what we wanted in Bulgaria. Unlike that pesky socialism or communism.
/s
In capitalism obviously the market will self regulate and competition will keep prices low. Because its obvious that the 15 coffee houses and restaurants on the beach front alley at at the sea garden owned by 10 people wont make a Facebook chat to coordinate prices. Because as Petar the neighbor owner of Zlatnata Ribka explained yes you can sell beer and caca 2x lower than us no issue but you will need a second waitress more kitchen staff more freezers and your restaurant will be always full to the point you wont have table for more people. The they will come to me where I will sell them the same beer for double the price but I will half half the staff and equipment half the customers and make the same amount of money... but you know what from time to time someone will set on the free tables and I will be at 75% capacity and make 25% more money than you.
Soon you see Strahile you better learn from us the old dogs how buisness works and in a short while you might be just like Ivan there who has 3 coffee houses build in 5 years. Good buisness yes? And in the end whag they gonna come to sea side and not drink beer and eat caca? Thats half the reason they are here.
This_Lion5856@reddit
The problem with modern capitalism is that everyone is competing on who can get the highest margin.
So they are essentially racing to see who can charge the most for their product/service.
And tbf as much as the greedy companies, I also blame reckless consumers. There are so many people drowning in debt that continue to spend like there is no tomorrow.
I have cut all my spending to borderline bare essentials and will continue to do so until companies start struggling and lowering prices.
EdrusTheSmall@reddit
If it is that easy and profitable go on and open a bar/restaurant! Please, try and see the reality
Pie_Dealer_co@reddit
Well charging as much as the market can bare is the very essense of capitalism. The theory as we all know should be if they make to much money competition will come and lower prices back.
The issue is dosnt happen and a 7 year old can tell you what competition will happen on a street which can have a finite amount of shops with a unique pull like a sea view, park, or other point of interest.
This_Lion5856@reddit
I mean the idea is if one places charges too much, there will be another that will open next to it that will charge less and potentially drive the customers away from them, lowering prices.
What happens in reality though is that the place next to it sees they can charge more so they ramp up the prices
SnooDonkeys9427@reddit
Self-regulation and free markets are the biggest scams and lies in the modern world. Everybody is pushing for a higher price and everything is essentialized. Prices rarely go down. Once it is up and you are "willing" to pay for it, then the standard is set and there is nothing you can do about it.
What are you gonna do? Not see your friends in a restaurant? "No bro, I have to pass as the prices are currently too high. Maybe invite me In one or two years."
"yeah bro, I am not going to buy toilet paper and vegetables because currently they are too high in price"
Get real.
Aranaar@reddit
And I hope there is no control. Like a free market should be. This gives even better conditions for new competitors. At the end of the day it's consumer discretionary if you cannot afford it don't use it. And by the looks of it many people can afford it.
Suitable-Decision-26@reddit
It is gone for affirdable living too, if this makes. you feel better. But is not the euro, we have been having rising prices for the last 2 years.
Substratas@reddit
It’s not euro adoption, it’s the greedy mf who use it as an excuse.
Joanne_hemsworth@reddit
That’s not the result of the euro adoption but of greed
SunnyTheMasterSwitch@reddit
And that is why i eat out only on occasions
Sagonator@reddit
Hmm lets see:
1) Find a tourist trap - check
2) Stay in tourist trap - check
3) Complain on reddit about said tourist trap - check
4) Go absolute potato mode and say that its euro's fault not the tourist trap - check, check AAAAND DOUBLE CHECK
znv142@reddit
Don't worry - prices were crazes with the Lev last summer too.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
This is what half the posts in the Bulgarian corner of facebook are about every summer. I think it's kind of a marketing campaign since for some idiotic reason, people would deliberately go to the place with high prices rather than boycott it.
Crypzzz@reddit
6 EUR to drink a beer in Bulgaria of all places !!! HAHAHAHA what a joke
shqipshqippp@reddit
a beer at the beach in tourist heavy parts of albania can cost around 7€, and we’re about a solid 25 years away from euro adoption. it’s a matter of greed more than anything else my friend
peev22@reddit
Well on a beach near Kavala last year one 0.33ml beer cost 7.5€. Our guys are learning fast lol
skywllk@reddit
That’s all over Europe
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
I think this is temporary. Same thing happened in Croatia and while it’s still expensive, it’s not as bad as what it used to be
VIPTRANSF@reddit
Yes, because MNE and ALB got all the volume after the hype went down. People are not stupid. Except few Americans that still think Croatia is cheap still, no one goes there.
I think the same will apply fo Bulgarian market in a few years... Problem is wh, go down the Croatian path, when all know where it leads...
helterr_skelterrr@reddit
Dude, yesterday i got fire backed pizza Franciskana (chicken fillet stripes, mushrooms and cheese) - 45 cm - 1,5 kg for 10 euro with the box. Some places in Bulgaria are quite expensive, this one looks like such,
best_decision1234@reddit
It’s not the euro’s fault, it’s the local cartels that keep the prices up