3 Reasons Why Bansko Bulgaria is a Digital Nomad Hub

Bansko, Bulgaria is a digital nomad hub.

In fact, it is often named as One of the Best Places for Digital Nomads to to Visit or Live.

We first heard about Bansko Bulgaria when we were in the most famous digital nomad hub in the world: Chiang Mai Thailand. Other digital nomads we met in Da Nang Vietnam also mentioned Bansko Bulgaria as a place that digital nomads ought to check out.

We are pretty seasoned travelers and have visited over 90 countries. But neither of us had ever heard of Bansko Bulgaria, much less had a desire to visit it.

But our friends from Authentic Food Quest told us they were going to be spending time in Bansko over the summer and that we ought to come visit them there.

So after spending a few days in Sofia Bulgaria, exploring the Bulgarian Black Sea and the wonderful city of Plovdiv Bulgaria we planned to spend 3 days in Bansko for a quick affordable luxury visit.

We ended up staying in Bansko Bulgaria for 8 weeks.

And we’ve come back ever single summer (with the exception of 2020) since our first visit in 2019.

Yep: 8 weeks as digital nomads in a small ski town in the middle of Bulgaria during the summer. And we return for at least a few weeks every single year.

Here are 3 reasons why.

Reason 1: Bulgaria is Perfect for Affordable Luxury Slow Travel

Digital nomads are always looking for a bargain. It’s sort of the whole point of being location independent: the ability live and work remotely in affordable and interesting places.

That’s what made Chiang Mai the original digital nomad hub: a cheap cost of living, decent internet speeds and an interesting place to be.

Bulgaria in general but especially Bansko is the perfect affordable luxury slow travel destination.

Everything in Bansko is affordable.

We paid around 200 euros per month for rent in an affordable luxury apartment in 2019. A typical lunch cost about $4. We ate in luxury restaurants for a fraction of the price that the same restaurant would cost in other cities.

Prices have gone up a bit over the years. Now we pay about 600 euros PER MONTH to stay in an apartment with a huge swimming pool (cheaper accommodations are available). And lunch now costs more like 6-8 euro per person. Still, that’s CHEAP!

Also, when the rest of Europe is scorching hot in July and August, being in a mountain town with warm days but cool breezes is amazing.

Click here for more information about Bansko Bulgaria as an Affordable Luxury Travel Destination.

Reason 2: Tax Benefits for EU Nomads and Digital Nomad Visa for Others

Tax Benefits for EU Nomads

For EU resident nomads, Bulgaria has a very attractive tax scheme.

Tax rates in Bulgaria are a flat 10% for business income, 10% for personal income and 5% on dividends.

And as an EU citizen if you live in Bulgaria for at least 6 months in a tax year you pay tax on your worldwide earned and dividend income at Bulgaria’s 10% and 5% rates.

Getting a residency visa requires navigating Bulgarian bureaucracy but is relatively straightforward. And residency can lead to citizenship after 5 years.

The price of real estate also makes Bansko Bulgaria an attractive place for EU citizens to put down some part-time roots. Studio apartments sell for as little as 20,000 euro.

Malta, Cyprus and the British Dependencies may have better tax benefits but Bansko Bulgaria’s low cost of living and – again – the digital nomad community set it apart.

Nomad Visa for Non-EU Citizens

The Bulgarian parliament recently introduced a “nomad visa” that provides permanent residence for everyone who earns at least €25,000 per year outside Bulgaria.

While not yet implemented, this could be a game-changer for many non-EU citizens that want to spend more time in Bulgaria than the 90 days every 6 months that the Schengen visa waiver provides. 

Reason 3: The Community

We saved the biggest reason that Bansko Bulgaria is an emerging digital nomad hub for last: the digital nomad community there.

Click or tap here to take a look at the SafetyWing Coworking Collection to find some of the best coworkings around the world!

The Importance of Digital Nomad Communities

Digital nomad cruises and retreats are in vogue.

The idea is to bring a bunch of location independent workers together for an all-expenses-paid period of time in a certain location. Maybe on a cruise. Or a even on a train. Or in a specific destination like Changu, Bali or Berlin, Germany.

The reason these events are becoming popular is obvious to anyone who has gone location independent: traveling as a digital nomad can become a lonely grind…even when you are a nomadic couple! Finding friends, social events and people to bounce business ideas off of is a hit or miss proposition. At some point, you want to connect with a community.

We had an easy time finding that community in Chiang Mai Thailand. Which isn’t surprising since Chiang Mai has a large and well-established digital nomad community.

In Da Nang Vietnam it was a bit tougher, although we did eventually meet some amazing digital nomads in Da Nang.

It was much harder to find expats and digital nomads in Penang Malaysia. We got lucky and found a community in Penang Malaysia and are happy to share how you can replicate that luck.

But the advantage of digital nomad retreats is that it guarantees that you will find a community of like-minded people who have ditched the typical 9-5 lifestyle for an entrepreneurial location independent lifestyle.

Bansko Bulgaria is a Full-Time Organic Digital Nomad Retreat

Bansko Bulgaria has become a full time organic digital nomad retreat. Or, as our friend Becks calls it: summer camp for nomadic adults.

Why is Bansko Different?

Bansko, Bulgaria has quietly transformed from a cozy ski resort into one of Europe’s coolest digital nomad hubs.

Perched in the Pirin Mountains, it delivers everything nomads crave: mountain air, affordable living, fast Wi-Fi, and a small-town charm that’s easy to latch onto.

The cost of living is compelling too: cheap eats, budget-friendly accommodation (under 600 euro/month in the summer), and coworking spaces that cater perfectly to location-independents starting out or scaling back.

Coworkings

A core reason Bansko works for nomads is its vibrant coworking scene, and leading the charge is Altspace Coworking. With three boutique-style spaces in town, they offer strong internet, monitors for rent, cozy setups, and a genuine sense of community.

But when you join Altspace you go so much more than a coworking space. You get a vibrant community with an active WhatsApp channel for members to coordinate social activities. And there’s something social going on just about every single day among the Altspace members, either organized by the coworking or member-driven.

They also do a Friday happy hour and everyone is invited whether you are a member or not!

Members highlight how Becky and Mark treat it like a family, focusing on meaningful human-centered activities: fitness classes, supper clubs, and charity events alongside work. It’s not just a desk, it’s your network within reach.

If you ever feel lonely as a digital nomad or as a long-term traveler, come to Bansko and join Altspace. We promise you won’t be lonely anymore!

Bansko Nomad Fest

Then there’s the Bansko Nomad Fest, which has become legendary.

Each summer, hundreds (peaking at 750) of remote workers gather for a week of workshops, networking, bonfires, outdoor adventures, and wild ideas shared across two big stages.

It’s the pivotal moment when casual visitors become regulars and when the nomad community cements around shared values, inspiration, and collaboration.

Outdoor Activities

Beyond coworking and festivals, Bansko is built for adventure and balance.

In winter, the ski slopes are on your doorstep; summer brings hiking, mountain biking, rafting, or a quick trip to Greece’s beaches.

Many nomads talk about finding the “sweet life” here: woo-living with a healthy work rhythm, incredible natural scenery, a growing multilingual community, and genuine sense of belonging.

Altogether, Bansko offers more than stability. It gives shape to a lifestyle, not just a work location.

Bottom Line – Bansko Bulgaria as a Digital Nomad Hub

Bansko has earned its spot as a digital nomad hub thanks to its low cost of living, strong community, reliable coworking spaces like Altspace, and standout events like Bansko Nomad Fest.

It offers the perfect mix of nature, productivity, and connection making it a go-to spot for nomads who want more than just a desk and a decent Wi-Fi signal.