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Hello Annaprg. 

Avoid Sunny Beach at all costs if you value your safety and sanity!!

I sold my own apartment last year thank God, (which I could only use from May to September) Sunny Beach closes down for winter.

I was burgled, robbed, scammed and ripped off continuously and treated like trash by the complex management.  Don’t bother calling the police they are not interested because corrupt.  The place is run by organised gangs and staffed by the worst of the worst during summer.

Sorry to inform you of what a hell hole that place is!

@Annaprg

It is the big summer/party beach resort, so many would find it too loud/crazy/crowded. But it's certainly got some life (and many love it). The winter is kinda quiet and lots of stuff closes down, I suspect it might be rather depressing then. New York to Sunny Beach is certainly not the typical retirement choice. :-)

I'm not as negative as @Snowball6, but Sunny Beach wouldn't be my top recommendation! For us, there are many nicer beach towns (Sozopol, Pomorie, Balchik, Nessebar). And for year-round living, I suspect a larger place would be nicer (Pomorie, Sozopol, Burgas).

In terms of price, you might find similar in nearby Sveti Vlas or Elenite. Also small, but a bit nicer and a bit less crazy.

Nessebar is nearby for culture (UNESCO-listed), Burgas is a bus ride away (for big city services), and Sveti Vlas (also very near) has a swanky marina and some nice hills (the end of the Balkan Mountains range). So there is more around than just beach and booze.

As a complete contrast, Bansko is Bulgaria's top ski/mountain resort,  and, until recently, also had some bargain-priced apartments. It's also very busy in peak season (winter), but it's beautiful all year round, and much more livable than Sunny Beach. I find it a very charming and relaxing town, and the Pirin National Park is spectacular.

If you're on a tight budget, perhaps you should also look at Turkey, which has lots of nice beaches/beach towns. Or consider nice inland villages in Spain, a very popular country for European retirees.

But... if you've found a great apartment at a bargain price, perhaps that's all that matters. My guess is that Sunny Beach is potentially livable year-round, and you'll probably bump into a few folks who do this.

I agree with gwynj I live in a cottage about twenty minutes from the coast . When I left my first husband a cottage close to the sea  with a productive garden was on my list and well out of my price range in the UK.  We live close to the city of Burgas in the Pomorie Municipality and Sunny Beach doesn't really appeal to me.  A builder who has an apartment at Sunny Beach has just bought a house in our village says he intends to live in it in the summer and rent out his apartment maybe live there in the winter.

@Kath948381

Amen to that! I've found SB to be appalling in the summer and desolate in the winter - and it's mostly run by the mafia. The good thing about it is that it keeps the "Club 18-30-types" well away from where we live, so more power to their elbow.  There certainly are MUCH more attractive, in every respect, places on the Black Sea - but give me the Med/Aegean/Adriatic coasts any time!

@gwynj

Thank you very much, it was very helpful. It is hard to find place where i could feel comfortable after New York. I need some social life or at list not to be an hour a way from it, also, some place which is nice to the eye and has active expats community. Real Estate agent was recommended, but i spend one day with her and we saw 11 apartments, but almost all of them around Sunny Beach. She is saying that with my budget this is only what i can afford. Did not like Sunny Beach, so i keep looking and i have limited time to be here.

I hope you can find what you want, Anna. There are some nice quieter coastal areas, and Burgas town doesn't close down in winter. The Pomorie area where Kath is sounds very nice.

Hi Annaprg.  Just sold my apartment in Sunny Beach.  It is the most horrendous place I’ve ever been.  Robbed, scammed, useless corrupt police.  Crime and vice is rife.  The worst of the worst work there in summer and in any event, I don’t think you can live there in winter.  At least I couldn’t.  So glad I got out of there.  If you value your safety and sanity avoid at all costs

Hi Annaprg. Just sold my apartment in Sunny Beach. It is the most horrendous place I’ve ever been. Robbed, scammed, useless corrupt police. Crime and vice is rife. The worst of the worst work there in summer and in any event, I don’t think you can live there in winter. At least I couldn’t. So glad I got out of there. If you value your safety and sanity avoid at all costs - @Snowball6

You have already commented Post #2

@SimCityAT

Maybe he got robbed and scammed again.... 😎

Or maybe her experience was so bad she had to repeat her comment for extra emphasis to make sure she was heard.

Thank you all.

Did not buy anything and going home September 4.

Any have experience buying future apartment from the builder though the broker?

It looks like i may afford something this way.

I guess i have not very large budget, also money conversion involved, tax, living expenses. I do not want to move to the new country with 20,000 euro in my pocket.

Another question. What do you do in the winter here, when it gets cold and quiet?

Best,

Anna

@Annaprg

It sounds as though you're thinking of buying "off-plan" - if so, check carefully just what condition/standard of finishing you're signing up for.  As has been mentioned here before, you may not get something that's liveable-in immediately, ie no flooring/bathroom fittings/kitchen units etc etc. Finishing can take a BIG chunk of cash - and getting items on a snag-list fixed can be difficult/impossible

@Annaprg

Probably good not to rush into anything this trip. At least you've seen some of the Black Sea Coast and you have a bit of a a feel for how much it appeals to you.

New apartment will be more expensive for sure AND it will be (usually) delivered "Bulgarian Standard". This means another 400 ish euros per m2 to finish it from a concrete box (and a lot of time and aggravation finding/managing your trades)!

For me (us) to be more helpful, you might give us some idea of your budget and what you're looking for (studio, 2 bed, penthouse, with/without pool, etc.).

Life goes on everywhere, even in winter. :-)

Here is just very small overview of the pleasures of Sunny Beach, and the municipality of Nessebar in general:

Sunny Beach is a microcosm of the wider issues of organized crime and corruption in Bulgaria. Its rapid, often chaotic, development since the fall of communism has made it particularly vulnerable to criminal infiltration.

The tourism and real estate sectors in Sunny Beach are heavily compromised. Several specific cases highlight this:

* The VIS and SIC groups: These two notorious organized crime groups from the 1990s have had a lasting influence. They initially gained control through protection rackets, extortion, and violence. Over time, they laundered their money and "legitimized" their operations by acquiring businesses in tourism, real estate, and security. A classified diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, released via WikiLeaks, identified VIS-2 as "the largest player in the drugs market" and detailed their activities, including "extortion and racketeering, illegal arms trading, gambling, prostitution, and smuggling" and noted their control over Sunny Beach.

* The "Dune Hotel" scandal: This is a particularly symbolic case. The hotel was built illegally on a public beach and was owned by the widow of a prominent crime boss, Georgi Iliev (see below). Despite repeated official declarations that the building was illegal, it remained in place for years, serving as a powerful symbol of the impunity enjoyed by criminal figures. This demonstrates how criminal elements can operate with disregard for the law, even when their activities are in plain sight.

The resort has been the scene of numerous Mafia Wars, including several high-profile public shootings, often between rival crime groups. A deadly shootout at a restaurant (see below), where gangsters clashed in front of terrified tourists, brought international attention to the problem. The incident was initially downplayed by the then-Prime Minister, who called it a "neighborhood brawl," highlighting the official reluctance to acknowledge the scale of the problem.

The links between criminals and local authorities in Sunny Beach are a well-documented issue. The infiltration of the municipal administration of Nessebar (which Sunny Beach is part of) is a key factor. Organized crime groups are known to have "captured" local institutions, influencing everything from urban planning and construction permits to police operations. This is often achieved through a combination of bribes, blackmail, and political alliances.

The police in the resort have been implicated in various criminal activities. Reports from investigative journalists have revealed that some officers have been caught dealing drugs for crime ringleaders. There are also allegations of a "coherent system for police racket of pimps, prostitutes and retailers," with corrupt officers protecting illegal activities in exchange for payments.

The overdevelopment of Sunny Beach is a direct consequence of corruption. Criminal groups and politically connected businessmen have been able to secure permits for illegal construction on public land and protected dunes, often with the complicity of municipal officials. This not only destroys the natural environment but also demonstrates the extent to which criminal interests override public welfare.

As elsewhere in Bulgaria, OC groups in not-so-Sunny Beach need to "send messages" and "protect their businesses" - and they, better than anyone, know that the courts and legal system are neither efficient nor immune to corruption. I'm sure that I don't need to spell out what "messages" and "protection" I'm talking about but here are a few examples...

Organised crime has been directly linked to numerous high-profile killings in Sunny Beach and the broader Nessebar municipality, a grim reflection of the turf wars and power struggles that have plagued the region for decades. There are too many "minor" killings and other violent incidents to list but the more prominent cases include:

Perhaps the most infamous murder in Sunny Beach, that of Georgi Iliev, a prominent organized crime boss and the head of the VIS-2 group, in 2005 in front of his nightclub "Budha Bar" in Sunny Beach. Iliev was shot by a sniper while talking on his phone, just as he was celebrating his football club's victory. The murder was a public, brazen display of organized crime's reach and ability to eliminate rivals with impunity.

The killing of Iliev, whose brother Vasil was also murdered in 1995, marked a major event in the ongoing Bulgarian mafia wars. The murder, like the vast majority of others before and since, remains unsolved - a testament to the fact that the killers and those who ordered the hit are either protected by or deeply embedded within the system.

Another case, a few years ago, though not a killing of the main target, highlights the extreme violence of the local conflicts. A gunfight erupted in a crowded restaurant between the gangs of Dimitar Zhelyazkov, also known as "Mityo the Eyes," and a rival crime figure. Zhelyazkov was severely wounded, but one of his bodyguards, Alexander Alexandrov, was killed. Another man was also killed in the shootout. Unsurprisingly, no-one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with this killing. This incident, which unfolded in front of terrified tourists, led to widespread public outrage and a brief political scandal. The then-Prosecutor General described the event as a "turf battle" over lucrative criminal activities. The incident confirmed to the public and the international community that despite Bulgaria's entry into the EU, its Black Sea resorts remain a battlefield for rival criminal gangs.

In May 2007, Dimitar Yankov, chairman of the Nessebar municipal council, was shot dead. He was known to have close ties to organized crime and was a key figure in local governance and lucrative property deals. His assassination underscored the lethal connection between local politics and organized crime in the region.

Killings in Sunny Beach and Nessebar are not isolated incidents but part of a larger, systemic problem of contract killings in Bulgaria. According to reports from institutions like the Center for the Study of Democracy, the perpetrators of these murders are very rarely ever brought to justice. This impunity has allowed organized crime to flourish and has made the Black Sea coast a particularly dangerous and unstable region for rival gangs and those who challenge them. The lack of convictions for such high-profile murders has created a climate of fear and has perpetuated the cycle of violence and corruption.

It might be a "good" venue for a Boozy Brit Beanfeast, but it's nowhere near the top of MY list of attractive places to live. On the other hand, it does add a little piquancy to the idea of a REAL "Bucket List".... 😎

@gwynj

Hi. Thank you for writing back. My budget is around 50,000-65,000 euro, because if i convert it into $ it eats a good chunk of money. With real estate prices going up, i do not see where i could buy anything here. I am also a city woman, so i need social circle and places to go.

Any idea? Other countries?

@Annaprg

Parts of Albania are still relatively cheap, but not the cities any longer. Crime there is also a problem - and when/if they ever join the EU it will no doubt get worse, with free money from Brussels ripe for the picking.. 

City properties here are going for crazy prices at the moment; I suspect that this is yet another bubble that will eventually burst but in all honesty I think you've missed that boat and they won't fall soon or to the extent that you need. Even villages close to the cities are expensive now and if you're retiring you need to think seriously about where you can get the best available medical care, which is primarily in Sofia.

If you haven't already, take a look at Germany: property there is still comparatively inexpensive. On the downside, Germans do love to be taxed and to impose bureaucracy on each other - and you really will need to speak the language to a decent standard ASAP after your arrival there..

@gwynj
Hi. Thank you for writing back. My budget is around 50,000-65,000 euro, because if i convert it into $ it eats a good chunk of money. With real estate prices going up, i do not see where i could buy anything here. I am also a city woman, so i need social circle and places to go.
Any idea? Other countries? - @Annaprg

Have you looked at companies like to exchange money?

@JimJ

Germany:

@SimCityAT

Yeah - but the property sites in Germany still show plenty for sale at affordable prices. 😉

Have you looked at companies like to exchange money? - @SimCityAT

Unfortunately Wise is not immune the way the US president has deliberately tanked the value of the dollar. I get paid into my Wise account in USD and my income compared to the GBP, EUR or BGN has suffered massively.

@gwynj
Hi. Thank you for writing back. My budget is around 50,000-65,000 euro, because if i convert it into $ it eats a good chunk of money. With real estate prices going up, i do not see where i could buy anything here. I am also a city woman, so i need social circle and places to go.
Any idea? Other countries? - @Annaprg

A few years back, you could have purchased a city property for that budget but prices have risen steeply. We hoped to buy an apartment in Varna but are now priced out of that market. If you want to be on the coast, you drive or are okay with living a 20-30 minute bus ride from the city centre, you may find Balchik on the north coast of Bulgaria worth looking at. It's a nice little town, and depending what you want you may still find something within your budget.  It's far calmer than Sunny Beach, I'm told it stays alive in the winter and so is liveable year-round, and you can be in central Varna city in less than 30 minutes.

Didn’t know I posted twice.  No idea what I did for that to happen

@Annaprg

Property prices have gone up in most of the world, not just Bulgaria. Unfortunately, I don't know anywhere where I would consider that to be a generous budget.

In Bulgaria, there are a few studios left in the 30k-40k euros range, but not in a big city. Maybe there are still a few 1 bedroom apartments left under 60k euros, but again unlikely to be in a city.

The only nearby place still cheaper than Bulgaria is Turkey, and you might find a small apartment in a smaller beach town within your budget. This might be a very livable option. Elsewhere in Europe, it might be worth looking at Spain and Portugal (maybe even Cyprus, or France/Italy) as they are very popular Mediterranean retirement destinations (so more likely to find a community of fellow expats), and Spanish is a much easier language for most of us to learn. Again, a city apartment is not so easy (but possible in an older building in an inland town), but perhaps a small townhouse in an inland village might be feasible.

I'm out of touch with Latin America after my years in Bulgaria, but it's the more typical retirement zone for North Americans. My guess is that there might still be some lower cost bargains in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua.

You could also research some of the Asian options (Thailand, Indonesia/Bali, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.). These are known as the most inexpensive retirement destinations.

Overall, it's not great news, but I think with some diligent research of these countries you'll find some bargains. Also, several of the places I mentioned are very highly regarded for retirees (see info on Escape Artist, International Living, YouTube). I've been to most of the countries I mention, and if I were on a tight budget, I'd prefer them to Bulgaria... and especially compared to Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Don't give up, keep looking!

In the "swankier" parts of Sofia you'd be very lucky to get a garage for €50,000... 😥

In the "swankier" parts of Sofia you'd be very lucky to get a garage for €50,000... 😥 - @JimJ

It seems that I spoke too soon: we've just seen an ad for a garage in Mladost 4 (definitely not a "swankier part of Sofia") - yours for a trifling €65,000! 🤑

@SimCityAT

I run google money conversion and it calculated the same amount they are offering.

It still on 70,000eu=$82,000

@JimJ

This is a lot.

@JimJ

What about Romania?

@JimJ
What about Romania? - @Annaprg

Looking purely at property prices, I'd suggest that you might want to check out (in no particular order) North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The downside of those is that their infrastructure isn't up to par, especially when it comes to medical facilities. It's also worth bearing in mind that Bulgaria was very much The Wild East up to a few years ago and a lot of people got their fingers burned dabbling in property; it's better now but other countries in this region have inherited the title and you need to keep your wits about you at all times. Of course, even theoretically "reliable" countries can catch out the unwary, for example Cyprus with its dodgy developers and elusive title deeds...

@Annaprg

The cheapest places to buy property in Europe are generally in Eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Moldova, as well as parts of the Balkans such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia. For a nominal fee or "Symbolic €1" houses, one can find fixer-upper properties in rural Italy, particularly in regions like Sicily, Tuscany, and Abruzzo, though these require significant investment in restoration.

Pretty much like in everything, you need to do your homework. Visit the country beforehand just to get the feel of the place. Property tends to be more expensive in the city, then consider could you live outside in the country, but still close enough that you are not missing out on the action. Look at public transport options. Make a list of Pros and Cons, and don't rush into things.

The main issue is that lower cost properties are going to be more rural, like the 1EUR village houses some local councils offer to prevent the village dying out. And they invariably need a huge amount spent, generally the purchase includes a clause that a specified amount must be spent on renovation in the first year.

Do have a look at the other countries mentioned. Even there, as @simcityAT said, you may need to consider buying in a smaller town with most necessary facilities, within easy drive or bus ride to a major city. Thinking about what you really need and want may turn up some solutions.

I hope your search is successful!

Thank you for all your help here.

I got an opportunity to invest in pre construction apartment in Burgass. They expand the city limits and build new complexes.

Anybody had experience investing or buying an apartment this way? Real Estate people have been recommended. It looks like on the early stage apartment price is low and is growing as they build the building.

To buy properties in other countries for just investing perpes, it only will help with investing. To live in these countries may be totally different conditions. In some like Spain and Italy I would need to have over $2000 a month income, when some other countries have lower requirements.

@Annaprg

This topic might be of interest to you: /en/forum/europe/p … udget.html

@SimCityAT

Thank you. It nice to see that someone in the same situation.