In an effort to help others planning to travel or explore overseas, I will document my expenses for each country I lived in during the 2023 year. I didn’t keep records for the first 2.5 months in Mexico as almost everything was paid for in cash. Beginning with the next destination, here are my budget travel expenses for Nessebar – 27 days. (Bulgaria)
Things To Note
All prices are in Canadian dollars and these destinations were ones I stayed at for more than one week. I consider myself a budget traveller and am frugal as I can be without forgoing too much comfort and privacy. I will always stay in my own place, for safety, I don’t book ‘room only’ or multi dorm hostels.
Food costs included in ‘groceries’ are everything purchased from a grocery store or market, so wine, beer, all food, toiletries, cleaning products, water etc.
Accommodation
I stayed in an Airbnb in New Nessebar which was a half hour walk from Old Nessebar and the touristy area. The Co-Host was a creep (persistently asking me out even though I always said no). It wigged me out as a solo female traveller, because of course he has a key to my flat.
The apartment was large, spacious, bright, with a sunny balcony and on the 3rd floor. All positive. It was a bit dirty but livable after a cleaning. The decor was ugly but oh well. The wifi was spotty and unfortunately the co-host had to come several times to attend to it not working at all. I would not return because of the host.
Breakdown
Train from Plovdiv $14
Accommodation (27 nights) $1,488
SIM card $11
Food (groceries) $375.05
Food (restaurants) $44.53
Postcards & stamps $11.70
Total expenses with accommodation $1,930.28
Average cost per day $71.49
Would I Return?
Maybe. It’s a perfect beach holiday if you stay away from Sunny Beach. I would like to explore more areas along the Black Sea in Bulgaria. The people were softer, and a little less severe. Many were Polish and Russian. It would be a great area to overwinter outside of the Schengen zone for those looking to wait out their 90 days like I was.
Tomorrow I’ll post Tivat, Montenegro!
