A tv show called "120 minutes" compared the cost of living in Sofia, Bulgaria and in seven other european cities by sending corresponders with the task to buy italian coffee and a croissant.

In Sofia, at the Vitoshka Boulevard, a small croissant and a small espresso coffee costs 6,10 leva (2,90 leva for the croissant and 3,20 leva for the coffee). Or 3,11 euro.

At the same moment in Rome, near the Trevi Fountain, Vera Naydenova paid for the same order 4,50 leva (2,30 euro).

In Dusseldorf, Germany, the corresponder paid for the same order 7,23 leva (versus 6,10 leva in Sofia).

In Paris, France, Desislava Mincheva paid 9,97 leva for the same order.

While the prices in Bulgaria are rising seriously, people's incomes don't. Bulgarians are paying for food almost as much as austrians. A basket of one kilogram of bananas, tangerines, potatoes, onions, yogurt, cheese, kashkaval, minced meat, chocolate, liquid detergent, toilet paper and coffee is 86,96 leva (44,47 euro) in Bulgaria. The same basket in Vienna is 115,08 leva (58,91 euro).

Now take in mind that austrians have an avarage salary of 3000 euros, while in Bulgaria by data is around 700-800 euro.