Am I Potty?

JimJ · 2025-10-10T14:35:46+02:00

Explore insights about retiring in Ireland after living in Bulgaria, including healthcare options and cost of living tips from experienced expatriates.

JimJ ViP

Member since 07 December 2015

JimJViP10 October 2025 12:35:46

1340

I'm retired and currently living in Bulgaria, and married to a Bulgarian who will be retiring soon-ish.聽 We're both EU citizens and have both had more than our fair share of dealing with the BG health system; we have no desire to repeat the experience, and even private hospitals are pretty appalling.聽 We're seriously considering retirement in Ireland (once the aged and sick in-laws have popped their clogs).聽 Obviously there is a difference in the cost of living, municipal taxes etc but we would br eligible for state health care (via S1s) and would purchase our own home.

I'd welcome any thoughts from folks who've made such a move or of course from any Irish people living in Ireland or elsewhere.

SimCityAT Expert

Member since 08 April 2014

SimCityATExpert10 October 2025 12:46:29

12720

@JimJ

Have a read of this Jim >

JimJ ViP

Member since 07 December 2015

JimJViP10 October 2025 14:35:38

1340

@SimCityAT

Thanks - I've read up on the health situation in Ireland and I'm pretty sure I'd rate the public health system there as better than in BG...

SimCityAT Expert

Member since 08 April 2014

SimCityATExpert11 October 2025 03:10:27

12720

@JimJ

I'm guessing anything could be better in Western Europe compared to Eastern Europe. People complain about the hospitals and healthcare in Austria, but I find it a dream having to wait just 3 months for an operation over Christmas / New Year and COVID. Also having MRIs, X-rays on the day and getting the results on the day. You compare that to some countries, i.e the UK, it can take years, and months for an appointment, then the results its a dream.

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

Member since 15 September 2015

CynicUK/Netherlands Expert11 October 2025 09:02:55

7988

@JimJ

Some on the ground experience, albeit now 5 years old - who knows, things may have changed.聽 Prior to retirement, in my UK national remit, I ran 2 depots in Ireland (Dublin and Cork) and also a UK site in Ballymena and would visit them every month, my staff were predominantly Polish drivers and Asian office staff.聽 They were singularly unimpressed with the free healthcare available, quoting long waiting lists, to the extent that they would frequently use private insurance.聽 To a man/woman, they were all keen to transfer to our Ballymena site in order to qualify to use the UK NHS.聽 From what I've read since I was last there, things haven't changed.

Cynic

Expat Team