Bulgarian Salaries in Euro
Contracts and payslips switched from leva to euro on 1 January 2026 at the irrevocable rate of 1 € = 1.95583 BGN. A salary of 2,000 leva became €1,022.58. The tax and insurance rules did not change with the currency; only the units did.
The minimum wage for 2026 is €620.20 a month (1,213.01 leva). If your contract still shows a leva amount, divide it by 1.95583 and enter the result in euro; the calculator also shows the net in leva so you can compare with older payslips.
Employee Insurance Contributions
| Fund | Employee rate |
|---|---|
| Pension, State Social Insurance (DOO) | 6.58% |
| Universal pension fund (UPF, second pillar) | 2.2% |
| Sickness and maternity | 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 0.4% |
| Health insurance (NZOK) | 3.2% |
| Total | 13.78% |
These rates are for workers born after 1959, who also pay into a universal pension fund. The employer pays its own, larger share on top.
Maximum Insurable Income in 2026
Contributions apply only up to the maximum monthly insurable income. In 2026 it changed during the year:
- €2,111.64 from 1 January to 31 July 2026, the 2025 level kept by the budget extension law;
- €2,300 from 1 August 2026, under the 2026 State Social Insurance Budget Act.
On €4,000 a month, contributions for 2026 total €3,622, far below the €6,614 that 13.78% of the full salary would be.
Flat 10% Income Tax
Bulgaria taxes employment income at a flat 10%. The base is gross pay less the employee's mandatory insurance, and there is no tax free allowance. So the effective tax is 8.62% of gross for pay below the cap.
That gives a fixed share of 77.6% as net pay up to the insurance cap, and a rising share above it.
Worked Example on 1,450 € a Month
- Gross: €1,450 a month, €17,400 a year
- Insurance: €17,400 × 13.78% = €2,397.72
- Tax base: €17,400 − €2,397.72 = €15,002.28
- Income tax: × 10% = €1,500.23
- Net: €13,502.05 a year, €1,125.17 a month (2,200.64 leva)
At the minimum wage the same steps give €481.26 a month.
Net Pay in Euro at Six Salaries
| Gross a month | Insurance | Tax | Net a month | Net a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €620.20 | €85.46 | €53.47 | €481.26 | €5,775 |
| €1,000 | €137.80 | €86.22 | €775.98 | €9,312 |
| €1,450 | €199.81 | €125.02 | €1,125.17 | €13,502 |
| €2,000 | €275.60 | €172.44 | €1,551.96 | €18,624 |
| €3,000 | €301.80 | €269.82 | €2,428.38 | €29,141 |
| €4,000 | €301.80 | €369.82 | €3,328.38 | €39,941 |
Monthly figures are averages over 2026, since the insurance cap rose in August.
What Is Taxed and What Is Not
- Insured and taxed: basic pay, length of service supplement, overtime, bonuses and paid leave.
- Taxed, outside the insurance base: some one off payments that are not remuneration for work.
- Tax reliefs not modelled: the child relief, relief for young families and voluntary pension contributions, which are claimed in the annual return.
Monthly Pay in Bulgaria
Employers calculate insurance and tax each month, so a month with a large bonus can hit the cap even if your average pay does not. Salaries are quoted gross per month; set the switch above to "Per month" to enter your contract figure in euro.
For a higher earner the August change is visible on the payslip. On €3,000 a month, insurance is €290.98 a month up to July and €316.94 from August, so net pay drops by €23.36 a month in the autumn. Below €2,111.64 a month nothing changed during the year.
Holiday pay is part of gross pay and is insured and taxed the same way, so a month with paid leave nets the same share as a working month.
Assumptions and Sources for Bulgaria
- Employment contract, worker born after 1959, the same gross every month of 2026.
- Cap of €2,111.64 for seven months and €2,300 for five.
- No annual tax reliefs and no second job.
- Workers born before 1960 split pension contributions differently and do not pay into a universal pension fund, so their figures differ slightly.
Sources: National Revenue Agency (NRA, nap.bg), National Social Security Institute (NSSI, noi.bg) on the 2026 insurable income, and the National Statistical Institute for average pay. Rates for 2026. Nearby pay: the Romania Gross to Net Calculator and the Croatia Gross to Net Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bulgaria use the euro for salaries?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026 pay is in euro, converted at 1.95583 BGN per euro.
How much is 1,450 € gross in net in Bulgaria?
€1,125.17 a month, or 2,200.64 leva.
What is the maximum insurable income in 2026?
€2,111.64 a month to 31 July and €2,300 from 1 August 2026.
What is the employee insurance rate?
13.78% of gross for a person born after 1959, up to the cap.
Is there a tax free amount in Bulgaria?
No. The 10% tax applies to gross pay less insurance from the first euro.
What is the minimum wage in Bulgaria in 2026?
€620.20 a month, which gives about €481.26 net.
Why did my net pay fall in August 2026?
If you earn more than €2,111.64 a month, the higher cap of €2,300 means more of your pay is insured from 1 August.