Renting an apartment in Sofia: the 6 neighbourhoods to look in

Where to rent an apartment in Sofia, how much to plan for in 2026 and how to avoid pitfalls when searching from abroad.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

17 August 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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To rent an apartment in Sofia, six areas cover most needs: Lozenets and Oborishte, residential and green, near the centre; Iztok, quiet and family-oriented; Mladost, modern and linked to Business Park Sofia by metro; Studentski Grad, student-oriented and cheaper; and, for small budgets, Lyulin and Nadezhda on the outskirts. Manastirski Livadi, a recent neighbourhood in the south, rounds out the list for families.

The market has changed over the past two years. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, at the rate of 1.95583 lev to the euro, and rents are now advertised in euros. They are rising fast: according to Eurostat, rents paid by tenants in Bulgaria were up 7.1% over one year in August 2026, after increases close to 10% in the first half. Rents remain unregulated: they are negotiated between landlord and tenant, with no legal cap.

The six areas to rent in Sofia

Lozenets: residential and sought after

A green neighbourhood close to the centre, with cafés, parks and good transport links. It is one of the favourite choices of international professionals. According to the Imoti.net analysis published by Dnes.bg in January 2026, a two-room apartment there generally goes for between €750 and €800 per month, more near the metro or with a parking space.

Oborishte: elegant and quiet

Ten minutes from the centre, around the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and many embassies. The atmosphere is quiet and the streets are tree-lined; expect around €600 to €800 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Iztok: for families

A quiet neighbourhood popular with families and diplomats, with international schools and green spaces nearby. Rents are in line with those of Lozenets: €750 to €800 for a two-room apartment according to Imoti.net.

Mladost: modern and well served

Recent buildings, metro and proximity to Business Park Sofia: it is the neighbourhood of professionals who work there. Two-room apartments rent for around €630 to €690, and demand is concentrated near the stations.

Studentski Grad: young and seasonal

The student neighbourhood, lively and dependent on the university calendar. Two-room apartments there run around €650 to €660, often shared by two.

Lyulin and Nadezhda: the lowest rents

In the west and north of the city, these neighbourhoods remain the most affordable: €450 to €580 for a two-room apartment according to Imoti.net, and €350 to €450 for a studio. Transport links vary from one street to the next: check the commute before signing.

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Search alone or get support?

Searching alone is possible, especially if you are already there and can read Bulgarian. The two main portals, ALO.bg and Imot.bg, publish most of the supply, but mostly in Bulgarian, and many landlords speak little English. From abroad, the difficulties pile up: you cannot view, it is hard to judge the real condition of an older building, and the lease is written in a language you do not master.

The Imoti.net analysis stresses a useful point: in Sofia, the quality of the home now matters as much as the neighbourhood. On the same street, the gap between an unrenovated older apartment and a modern two-room apartment can reach several hundred euros per month. A viewing on site, by you or by someone you trust, avoids paying the price of a renovated apartment for a home that is not.

Together we will find your home

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Get help!

Renting from France: how to go about it

Define your full budget. On top of rents come charges (water, electricity, heating), averaging €100 to €140 per month. A monthly public transport pass costs about €26.
Prepare your application. ID or passport, proof of income or employment contract: the requirements remain close to those in France, and a ready application lets you reserve a well-located property quickly.
Plan for the move-in costs. At signing, you generally pay the first month, a security deposit of one month and, if an agency is involved, fees of half a month to one month's rent.
Have the lease translated. The contract is almost always written in Bulgarian, for a standard term of twelve months. Have it reviewed by an independent translator or a bilingual lawyer before signing, and check who pays which charges.
Count on furnished. The vast majority of apartments on offer are furnished, which simplifies moving in from abroad.

Where to look for an apartment in Sofia

For a long-term rental, listings are found first on local portals:

Imot.bg: one of the two main property listing portals in Bulgaria, mostly in Bulgarian;
ALO.bg: the other big portal where most rental listings are published;
Imoti.net: another property portal, whose price analyses are picked up by the Bulgarian press.

Short-term rental platforms are mainly useful for housing you during the first few weeks, while you view places. Be wary of English-language listings at prices well below the neighbourhood: they are often the ones hiding the traps described below.

Difficulties and scams to avoid

Paying before viewing. Never pay a deposit for an apartment that neither you nor someone you trust has seen.
Accepting an arrangement without a written lease. Some landlords still offer informal rentals. A written contract is essential to assert your rights and prove your address.
Signing without understanding. An untranslated lease in Bulgarian can contain unexpected clauses on charges or rent increases. With no rent control, any annual increase must be provided for in the contract.
Underestimating the condition of the home. Flattering photos sometimes hide worn furniture or faulty heating. Imoti.net notes that tenants are less and less willing to accept poorly maintained homes: use that in the negotiation.
Forgetting the deposit. Insist on a dated receipt for the deposit and a move-in inspection report with photos.

If you can't travel, a home finder based in Sofia can search for you on the local portals, view places, put your application together and go over the lease with you before signing. With Remoters, the first conversation and the quote are free.