Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Sofia
| Private rooms Sofia | 28 | 536/month |
| Residences Sofia | 4 | 523/month |
| Apartments Sofia | 57 | 1114/month |
Going for Erasmus to Sofia means arriving in a city where everything is new, including the language and the culture, which can seem a bit overwhelming. This is why many international students seek to rent a room in a shared flat, to be accompanied by other young people who are in the same situation when they arrive in the city.
Whether you share with local or international flatmates, by living with other students you will be able to learn about different cultures and their lifestyles. Because of this, if one of your classmates is Bulgarian, you will be able to immerse yourself much more in the local culture.
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Sofia
These are some of the pros and cons of living in shared flats in the capital of Bulgaria:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Sofia
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Shared flats are available in different areas of the city. For example, if you want to be close to Sofia University you can live in Studentski Grad; If you prefer to live near the busiest entertainment venues, consider Sofía Centro; if your thing is to be further away from the city and close to green areas, you can choose between Vitosha and Lozenets.
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The cost of living in Bulgaria is cheap, so by saving on rent you will be able to access many more activities to get to know Sofia more.
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Sofia
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Finding a place in a shared flat in a residence is complicated, so you have to ask for it in advance. In addition, the facilities of the residences are usually old, not being in the best conditions generally.
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Sometimes it is difficult to make roommates comply with the cleaning and tidying schedule.
Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Sofia
Thanks to the Apps for Erasmus+ you can access a lot of information to make your exchange easier. One of the most important tips, if your budget is low, is to rent a spare room in a neighbourhood a little further from the centre, because it is cheaper and public transport is very good.
How to meet people in Sofia?
In addition to befriending your flatmates, consider some of the following options to meet other students in the Bulgarian capital:
Student associations in Sofia
The different universities in the city have an Erasmus Student section Network, and there is also the ESN Sofia that brings together the other five and allows students from different institutions to interact with each other. You will find, for example, the ESN Sofia University, which organizes various activities for international youth at that university. Some of the plans you will be able to join include theme parties, affordable trips to other cities in Bulgaria like Tryavna or Gabrovo, karaoke nights, snow excursions and volunteering at a dog shelter.
Facebook groups for Erasmus in Sofia
In this social network, you will find several Facebook groups that you can join. Some of them belong to different faculties of the universities and others are from the ESN. They are normally organized by academic year, so you have to look for the one that corresponds to the period in which you are going to be in the city.
Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Sofia
Surely you will find some groups on Whatsapp, Telegram or Discord that you can join to meet people who are in Sofia at the same time as you. Take the opportunity to contact other young people who have similar interests, so they can make their plans and enjoy the city to the fullest.
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Sofia
We give you some tips for you to take into account:
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The prices of apartments in central areas are usually much higher than those in more remote areas. Keep this in mind when doing your search.
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If any of your roommates is Bulgarian, take the opportunity to learn more about the language and understand the street and local signs. Of course, we recommend that you learn the Cyrillic alphabet before going to make this easier.
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Take advantage of the low rental cost to spend more of your budget travelling to other places in Bulgaria and to nearby Turkey, Romania and Slovenia. Bus trips are usually very affordable!
Frequently asked questions about sharing a flat in Sofia
How much does a shared flat cost in Sofia? |
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| The average price of a spare room in a shared apartment in Sofia is €400 per month, although it can be as low as €300 and go up to €700 depending on the characteristics and locations. |
Where to look for shared flats in Sofia? |
| We recommend that you search on Erasmus Play, the comparator where you will not only be able to see a large number of verified rooms and shared flats, but you will also be able to see all their images, characteristics, prices, requirements and locations. |
How to meet people in Sofia? |
| There are different associations that you can join, such as ESN Bulgaria, ESN Sofia or the ESN of each of the universities. You can also join groups on messaging services such as Whatsapp, Telegram or Discord, as well as being part of the Facebook groups for international students. |
Should I share a flat or live alone in Sofia? |
| As a student, it would be best if you shared a flat so that you could be accompanied on your arrival and save some money on the cost of rent and utility bills. |
What should I take into account when entering a flatshare in Sofia? |
| You must remember that the lifestyle of your flatmates may not be yours, so you have to go with an open mind and maintain transparent communication. |
