Bulgaria · roaming cost calculator
Bulgaria Roaming Price Check: Published Carrier Rates, Verified
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Bulgaria eSIM plan comparison: four providers
Heavy data users in Bulgaria should compare Airalo's 10GB A1 Bulgaria plan at $0.77/GB against Holafly's unlimited tier. Airalo is cheaper under 7-8GB of daily usage.
Get eSIMHolafly prices by the day, not the gigabyte. In Bulgaria on A1 Bulgaria's 4G LTE network: if you use under 2GB per trip, a per-GB plan from Airalo or Nomad will cost less.
Get eSIMIn Bulgaria, Saily connects to A1 Bulgaria at $0.77/GB with VPN included. One-app management eliminates the need for a separate VPN subscription during the trip.
Get eSIMBulgaria on Nomad means A1 Bulgaria 4G LTE at competitive rates. A 3GB plan covers a 3-4 day weekend trip; a 5GB plan handles a full week of maps and messaging.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Saily vs Nomad
The full picture
Bulgaria data roaming prices from US and UK carriers
Every major carrier's published Bulgaria rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone | Roaming Passport | $6.00source | $42.00 | LTE | Fair-use |
| EE | Roam Abroad | $6.00source | $42.00 | LTE | Fair-use |
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| eSIM · Airalo | 1 GB · 7 days | — | $0.77 | LTE / 5G | 1 GB |
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
How much AT&T charges per hour in Bulgaria without a plan
The worst-case AT&T pay-per-use scenario in Bulgaria: you land, turn off airplane mode, and forget to activate an international plan. Your phone syncs email, checks for app updates, and loads the map you opened. AT&T charges $2.05/MB in that state. A 30-minute Zoom call costs $922. 1 hour of Google Maps adds $102. Uploading 20 photos to iCloud runs $410. One hour of YouTube while hotel WiFi lags: $1025. A full gigabyte at AT&T's pay-per-use rate: $2099. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
How much will you save with an eSIM in Bulgaria?
Adjust your trip length, carrier, and data habits to see your exact savings.
Network coverage
Network operators powering data roaming in Bulgaria
AT&T and Verizon connect to A1 when you roam in Bulgaria. An eSIM routes through the same A1 network. Every bit of data travels through the same physical infrastructure. The roaming surcharge does not improve it. Verizon charges $10/day for this access; Airalo charges $0.77/GB. A1's 4G LTE network covers Bulgaria. AT&T roaming and travel eSIMs both connect to that same LTE signal. No speed difference. Only a price difference: $10/day versus $0.77/GB. Bulgaria has limited 5G coverage. 5G trials in Sofia Average download speeds reach 132 Mbps on A1's network — identical whether you connect through a carrier roaming pass or a travel eSIM.
Pricing breakdown
Carrier roaming fees and eSIM prices for Bulgaria trips
How much does Bulgaria roaming cost over 14 days? AT&T: $140. Verizon: $140. T-Mobile high-speed: $210. A 10GB eSIM on A1 Bulgaria: $7.70. The difference between the cheapest carrier option and the eSIM is $132.30 less than AT&T.
Daily data cost comparison for Bulgaria: AT&T $10/day, Verizon $10/day, T-Mobile high-speed $15/day, eSIM $0.55/day ($7.70 total over 14 days). On a per-day basis, the eSIM is 18.2x cheaper than AT&T.
AT&T charges $140 for 14 days regardless of how much data you use. eSIM tiers let you pay for what you need: 1GB at $2.21 ($2.21/GB), 3GB at $3.47 ($1.16/GB), 5GB at $5.20 ($1.04/GB), 10GB at $8.06 ($0.81/GB), 20GB at $17.03 ($0.85/GB). For unlimited data, the daily plan costs $2.62/day ($36.68 total), which is $103.32 less than AT&T. Travelers in Bulgaria average 1.5GB of mobile data per day, so a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB.
Trip cost breakdown
Three trip scenarios: what AT&T charges vs eSIM cost in Bulgaria
The 3-day traveler pays $30 on AT&T for maps and messaging in Bulgaria. A 3GB eSIM on A1 Bulgaria covers the same trip for $3.47 — $26.53 less.
The 14-day family vacation reaches $140 in AT&T charges per person. That is one bill per family member, four members means $560. Four 20GB eSIM plans on A1 Bulgaria cost $68.12 combined — $491.88 less for the group.
A 30-day stay runs $300 on AT&T for video calls and streaming. A 50GB eSIM on A1 Bulgaria at $40.13 is 87% less for the same A1 Bulgaria towers. Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
SIM card kiosks vs eSIM at Sofia (SOF)
SIM counters at Bulgaria airports close overnight. If you land after 10 PM or before 6 AM, the kiosk may not be open. A 1GB eSIM at $2.21 activates on A1 Bulgaria's towers as soon as you disable airplane mode — it does not depend on airport operating hours.
Data planning
5-day Bulgaria data budget breakdown
Uploading photos to Google Photos or iCloud uses roughly 10 MB per photo in full resolution. Fifty photos per day adds 500 MB before you factor in maps or calls. At 1.5GB average daily usage in Bulgaria, a 5-day trip needs 8GB minimum.
The 10GB plan at $8.06 supports roughly 40 hours of WhatsApp video calls. For daily check-ins home, that is more than enough for 5 days. AT&T would charge $50 for the same A1 Bulgaria connection. For heavy data users, unlimited daily plans start at $2.62/day — still cheaper than any carrier roaming pass.
Connectivity
Bulgaria WiFi vs cellular data
WiFi and a travel eSIM work best as a pair in Bulgaria. WiFi is available in cities but drops outside them. Use it where it is strong. An eSIM on A1 Bulgaria handles navigation, ride-hailing, and payments everywhere else at $0.77/GB.
Plan your data
Daily data needs on a Bulgaria trip
Digital nomads spending a week in Bulgaria face $50 in AT&T roaming or $50 with Verizon. A 10GB eSIM on A1 Bulgaria covers the same 7 days for $17.03. At $0.77/GB, the per-day data cost works out to under $1.61.
A1 Bulgaria, Vivacom, and Telenor provide cellular coverage across Bulgaria. AT&T and Verizon roaming connects to these same operators. A $0.77/GB eSIM plan connects to the same towers without the carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at Sofia (SOF) charge $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days — still more than a 10GB eSIM at $8.06. Bulgaria draws 13M (2024) tourists each year, with peak arrivals in Jun-Sep when roaming charges concentrate most heavily. Bulgaria mobile networks deliver an average 132 Mbps download speed — the same whether you roam on AT&T or connect through a travel eSIM.
Quick reference
Bulgaria Travel Essentials
112
112 is the emergency number in Bulgaria — police, fire, and medical. It is the EU standard and works from any mobile phone regardless of SIM type or carrier. No local plan or credit is required to dial 112.
Type C/F
Bulgaria uses Type C outlets (European two round-prong). US plugs require a Type C adapter. Check that your phone and laptop chargers show 100-240V input — most modern chargers are compatible.
EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
BGN (лв)
Cards are accepted at hotels, tourist-facing shops, and chain restaurants in Bulgaria. Local markets, small vendors, and rural businesses prefer cash. Withdraw BGN at an ATM on arrival — airport ATMs have the same rates as city ATMs.
Quick tip
Bulgaria draws 13M (2024) international visitors per year. Carrier roaming is the default for most — the price comparison takes less time than the airport immigration queue.
Quick tip
Traveling to Bulgaria during Jun-Sep? Book your eSIM before departure — airport SIM counters have longer wait times in peak months.
Step by step
How to add a Bulgaria eSIM to your phone
- At the airport before departure: if Settings > Cellular shows an "Add eSIM" option, your phone is ready — buy and install a Bulgaria plan in under 5 minutes on any airport WiFi
- Airalo offers the Bulgaria 1GB plan for $2.21 — buy it directly from their app or website. Compare all eSIM providers to find the best option for your trip.
- Open your phone's eSIM settings and scan the QR code — do this before your flight to Sofia (SOF) so it activates the moment you land
- Turn off Data Roaming (Settings > Cellular on iPhone, or Connections > Mobile Networks on Android) to stop carrier charges. Read the full how-to-turn-off-data-roaming guide for device-specific steps.
- On iPhone at Sofia (SOF): tap Settings > Cellular, select your Airalo eSIM line, and set it as the active data SIM — A1 Bulgaria's LTE signal appears in the status bar within 30 seconds
- On Samsung Galaxy: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > WiFi Calling and enable it on your home SIM — calls route over the eSIM data connection in Bulgaria
Data tips
Bulgaria travel data tips: what to turn off and when
Travel booking apps — flights, hotels, and train tickets — typically use 5-20 MB per search session. If you book in-country transport while in Bulgaria, plan for one session of 15-30 MB. Download booking confirmations to your phone over WiFi so you can access them without cellular data.
Regional context
Europe travel: Bulgaria mobile data guide
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Bulgaria:
Bulgaria SIM registration: ID required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Bulgaria has fast mobile speeds (132 Mbps) despite limited 5G
One of the cheapest EU countries for mobile data
Uses Bulgarian lev pegged to euro
Forgot your eSIM?
Buying an eSIM after you land in Bulgaria: what it costs
The fastest emergency option in Bulgaria: turn on AT&T cellular data long enough to download the Airalo app. The app download is approximately 5 MB. At AT&T's $2.05/MB pay-per-use rate, that download costs $10. Once the app is installed, turn carrier data back off. Connect to Sofia (SOF)'s free WiFi, buy a Bulgaria eSIM plan, and scan the QR code. Your eSIM on A1 Bulgaria then handles all data at $2.21 for 1GB. The $10 carrier charge is a one-time cost, not a daily fee. Compare that to AT&T's $12/day International Day Pass — the emergency download pays for itself in under two hours.
Bulgaria FAQ
Bulgaria eSIM & roaming questions
How much does carrier roaming cost in Bulgaria?
T-Mobile includes Bulgaria in its free international plan, but throttles every connection to 256 Kbps — one-eighth the speed of basic 2G. AT&T costs $10/day, Verizon costs $10/day. A travel eSIM on A1 Bulgaria at $2.21 for 1GB provides full 4G LTE — the same towers, none of the speed cap, and less money than either paid carrier option.
Is T-Mobile's free international data fast enough in Bulgaria?
No. T-Mobile caps free international data at 256 Kbps in Bulgaria — one-eighth the speed of basic 2G. At that rate, Google Maps takes 15+ seconds to load a single tile and will not work for navigation. Streaming video requires at least 1.5 Mbps; video calls need 2 Mbps. Basic WhatsApp text messages work, but anything else does not. T-Mobile's high-speed add-on for Bulgaria costs $15/day. A travel eSIM on A1 Bulgaria's 4G LTE network delivers full local speeds at $0.77/GB — cheaper per GB than the speed upgrade.
How is my roaming bill calculated in Bulgaria?
Your carrier uses one of two models. Per-day billing: AT&T charges $10 and Verizon charges $10 for each calendar day your phone connects in Bulgaria — even if you only check a notification at midnight. Per-MB billing: without a day pass, AT&T charges $2.05 per megabyte, which adds up to $2,099 per GB. Both models penalize casual background data usage. A travel eSIM uses flat-rate billing — you pay 1GB for $2.21 upfront, with no per-day activations and no per-MB overages. Once purchased, the cost is fixed regardless of usage patterns.
Can I get a refund on a travel eSIM for Bulgaria if I don't use it?
Refund policies vary by provider. Most eSIM providers offer a full refund only if the plan has never been installed or activated. Once the QR code is scanned and the profile downloaded to your device, refunds are rarely issued even if you never traveled. AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day can be cancelled before departure — your account is only billed on days the pass activates in Bulgaria. For an eSIM on A1 Bulgaria at $0.77/GB, read the refund clause before purchase. Plans under $10 total carry no refund window regardless of usage. Rates checked June 2026.
Can I send and receive SMS texts with a travel eSIM in Bulgaria?
Data-only eSIM plans in Bulgaria do not include SMS. Text messages go through your home SIM. With data roaming disabled on your home SIM, incoming SMS still arrives because texts travel on the voice network, not the data network. iMessage and WhatsApp messages route over the eSIM's data connection on A1 Bulgaria at $0.77/GB. Standard SMS from your home number works without activating data roaming. The cost risk: if your home SIM accidentally connects data in Bulgaria, AT&T charges $10/day or $2.05/MB. Keep data roaming disabled on the home SIM. Rates checked June 2026.
Does EU roaming cover Bulgaria for US travelers?
No. EU roaming is a rule for European carrier customers — US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) are not subject to it. All three US carriers charge their standard international rates in Bulgaria: AT&T at $10/day, Verizon at $10/day, T-Mobile free at 256 Kbps. A travel eSIM cuts through the complexity — $0.77/GB on A1 Bulgaria's 4G LTE network, no EU policy considerations required.
Is AT&T International Day Pass cheaper than an eSIM for Bulgaria?
No. AT&T International Day Pass costs $10/day in all European countries including Bulgaria. Over 7 days that is $70. A 5GB eSIM plan costs $5.20 for the same period on A1 Bulgaria. The eSIM saves 93% and does not charge you on days when you only use WiFi — unlike the day pass, which triggers the moment any cellular data is used.
Can I use one eSIM across multiple European countries including Bulgaria?
Yes. Multi-country European eSIM plans cover the Schengen Area — typically 30+ countries including Bulgaria — under a single data bucket. AT&T and Verizon roaming rates are the same in every Schengen country: $10/day per country. A regional eSIM buys you data that works across borders without activating per-country charges. If your itinerary includes Bulgaria plus 2-3 neighboring countries, the regional eSIM is cheaper than day passes for every country crossed.
Does GDPR affect the data collected by a travel eSIM in Bulgaria?
GDPR governs how companies process personal data, not how your phone uses mobile data. A travel eSIM in Bulgaria connects to A1 Bulgaria's network — the same infrastructure AT&T and Verizon route roaming through. GDPR does not change connection speeds, pricing, or data limits. Both carrier roaming and travel eSIMs log metadata (connection times, data volumes) as part of standard carrier operations. GDPR applies to the provider's handling of that log data, not to your browsing or usage.
How much does carrier roaming cost for a week in Bulgaria?
AT&T: $70/week (International Day Pass at $10/day). Verizon: $70/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: free at 256 Kbps or $105/week for usable speed. The cheapest eSIM for Bulgaria starts at $0.77/GB on A1 Bulgaria's 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
Bulgaria data myths travelers believe
A VPN eliminates roaming costs
A VPN changes the routing of your data packets — it does not change which cellular network your phone connects to. In Bulgaria, your phone attaches to A1 Bulgaria's towers whether or not a VPN is active. AT&T still bills $10/day for that connection even when you tunnel traffic through a VPN server. A VPN also adds 10–20% overhead to your total data consumption on top of the carrier charge.
eSIMs use different, slower networks
A travel eSIM in Bulgaria connects to the same A1 Bulgaria towers as AT&T and Verizon roaming. The radio frequency bands, signal strength, and 4G LTE speed are identical. AT&T's roaming agreement with A1 Bulgaria and a travel eSIM provider's agreement with A1 Bulgaria both access the same physical infrastructure. No speed penalty exists for switching from roaming to eSIM.
eSIM drains more battery than a physical SIM
An eSIM is a programmable chip embedded in your phone's hardware — the same radio module that handles physical SIM cards. It draws no additional power beyond what a physical SIM uses. Battery drain in Bulgaria is driven by signal strength and data activity, not by SIM format. Weak signal forces your radio to search harder — that is the actual drain variable regardless of SIM type.
Our recommendation
The numbers: eSIM vs roaming in Bulgaria
Our analysis for Bulgaria points to Holafly. Holafly's unlimited plan runs on A1 Bulgaria in Bulgaria at $2.62/day with no data cap. For trips longer than 5 days, unlimited data removes the guesswork of picking the right GB tier. Streaming, video calls, and tethering all work without watching a usage meter. Airalo is the pick if you use less than 2 GB/day — a 1GB plan at $2.21 costs less for light users.
Bulgaria eSIM vs Vodafone roaming: the price difference
A Bulgaria eSIM costs $0.77 for the same data your carrier charges $42+ to roam.
Get a Bulgaria eSIM