@helen: you're such a good close reader of my blog!  I am nearly thirty but nearly-thirty-something doesn't have quite the same ring to it at a twenty-something. And you make some really good points in this comment.  The truth is that I make a good salary teaching at the American College and I am paid in dollars.  Because of this, my experience in Sofia isn't really comparable but I'd still like to challenge myself to see what life looks like if I were making approximately the same salary of an average Bulgarian. So, my question for you is this, if I were an average nearly-thirty-something living in Sofia do you think I'd be making the 560L I suggested, the 610-660L suggested by andreytcho or would I be able to make 1000L a month that you've suggested?