Living in Pernik
In Pernik, unemployment is 9% (2021).
For Pernik, the unemployment rate was 9% in September 2021. The population of Pernik, in Bulgaria, was 80,576 at the end of 2025.
Which Bulgaria-wide rules apply when you move to Pernik?
National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.
Housing and cost
How much does it cost to rent in Pernik?
Average net cold rent is 1.17 EUR/m² per month (2020), excluding heating and operating charges.
Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.
- Average net rent (nettokalt): 1.17 EUR/m²/month · NSI City Statistics — Average annual rent for housing (per m2), Euro/m211
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 20 EUR/month | 30 Sept 2026 | A1 Bulgaria fixed internet1Official · national market |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 15.9 EUR/month | 30 Sept 2026 | Vivacom mobile data plan17Official · national market |
| Average net rent (nettokalt) | 1.17 EUR/m²/monthcountry median €1.92 | 31 Dec 2020 | NSI City Statistics — Average annual rent for housing (per m2), Euro/m211Official |
Is Pernik a good place to live?
There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Worked out from these numbers
What does a 60 m² flat cost?
About 70 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 1.17 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.
Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in Pernik?
The unemployment rate is 9 % (September 2021). Source: NSI Infostat 2016 — activity, employment and unemployment rates by municipality13
Pernik 9.0%
Unemployment rate (%)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average gross earnings | 922.1 EUR/month | 31 Dec 2024 | Average annual wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract by statistical regions and districts in 2024 (EUR)2Official · county |
| Unemployment rate | 9 %country median 9.2% | 7 Sept 2021 | NSI Infostat 2016 — activity, employment and unemployment rates by municipality13Official |
Unemployment rate fell 60.1% between 2011 and 2022, from 12.9% to 5.1%.
Public employment service
No exact public employment office is currently linked to Pernik. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.
Employment Agency — Public employment service
Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Pernik. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Safety
How safe is Pernik?
Police recorded about 1,140 incidents per 100,000 (2025). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Report on the activity of the Ministry of Interior in 2025, Figure 2: registered crimes per 100,000 population16
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents | 1,140 incidents per 100,000 | 31 Dec 2025 | Report on the activity of the Ministry of Interior in 2025, Figure 2: registered crimes per 100,000 population16Official · county |
Mobility and administration
Language courses and integration
No exact city-level course record is currently published for Pernik. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.
Free Bulgarian language courses for people displaced from Ukraine — State Language Course
Government of Bulgaria / Bulgaria for Ukraine
For people displaced from Ukraine, adults, children.
Climate and air quality
Is the air quality good in Pernik?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 17 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data3
Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.
Within WHO 2021 guidelineAbove WHO, within EU limitAbove EU legal limitCity annual mean · µg/m³
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 23 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — BG NO2 annual mean 2024 (station AMS Center-Pernik)4Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM10 — annual mean | 20 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — BG PM10 annual mean 2024 (station AMS Center-Pernik)5Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 17 µg/m³country median 17.0 — about the same | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data3Official |
| Monthly extreme high temperature | Jan 15.28 · Feb 18.49 · Mar 24.36 · Apr 25.48 · May 29.77 · Jun 35.52 · Jul 39.63 · Aug 37.04 · Sep 33.69 · Oct 29.83 · Nov 25.63 · Dec 16.24 °C | 31 Dec 2001 | NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center10Official |
| Monthly extreme low temperature | Jan -24.74 · Feb -21.73 · Mar -17.51 · Apr -9.41 · May -0.85 · Jun 2.92 · Jul 6.93 · Aug 5.36 · Sep -1.5 · Oct -6 · Nov -12.98 · Dec -21.21 °C | 31 Dec 2001 | NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center10Official |
| Average temperature by month | Jan -2.27 · Feb -0.26 · Mar 3.98 · Apr 8.81 · May 14.11 · Jun 18.29 · Jul 21.06 · Aug 21.2 · Sep 16.28 · Oct 10.5 · Nov 5.09 · Dec -0.55 °C | 31 Dec 2001 | NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center10Official |
Population and city profile
How many people live in Pernik?
The published population was 80,576 people in 2025. Source: NSI Infostat 1062 — population by sex, residence districts and municipalities12
By nationality
National passport99.4%
Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 484.1 km² | 31 Dec 2024 | Eurostat GISCO, European Commission8Official |
| Foreign-resident share | 0.7 % | 31 Dec 2022 | Eurostat6Official |
| Foreign residents | 481 people | 31 Dec 2022 | Eurostat — City statistics, urb_cpopcb (indicator DE2012V), Pernik7Official |
| City area | 71 km² | 31 Dec 2024 | migrationfit.com9Official |
| Population density | 1,104 people/km² | 31 Dec 2024 | migrationfit.com9Official |
| Population | 80,576 people | 31 Dec 2025 | NSI Infostat 1062 — population by sex, residence districts and municipalities12Official |
Foreign residents rose 94.7% between 2011 and 2022, from 247 to 481.
Alternatives for people set on Pernik
Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.
Yambol as a Pernik alternative in the same country
Better on 3 of 5 metrics measured the same way, worse on 1. Rent cannot be compared like for like.
- Rent: €1.48/m² (2022) Yambol vs €1.17/m² (2020) Pernikno percentage
- Nearest airport: 13.0 km Yambol vs 33.0 km Pernik−61%
- Foreign residents: 0.9% Yambol vs 0.7% Pernik+29%
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 1,248 Yambol vs 1,140 Pernik+9%
- Unemployment: 8.2% Yambol vs 9.0% Pernik−9%
- Residents: 58,997 Yambol vs 80,576 Pernik−27%
Budapest as a Pernik alternative in another country
Better on 2 of 2 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0. Rent and recorded crime, per 100k cannot be compared like for like.
- Rent: €16.94/m² (2026) Budapest vs €1.17/m² (2020) Pernikno percentage
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 2,396 Budapest vs 1,140 Pernikno percentage
- Annual PM2.5: 13.0 µg/m³ Budapest vs 17.0 µg/m³ Pernik−24%
- Nearest airport: 18.0 km Budapest vs 33.0 km Pernik−45%
Alternative cities in Bulgaria
Other cities in Bulgaria to compare with Pernik, nearest in population first.
How does Pernik compare?
Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Pernik's.
Pernik in rankings
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Pernik when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.
Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.
Open the official coverage guideSchool for children who move here. School is compulsory from age 7 to 16, and public school is free. Newly arrived pupils get support in the school language: Free Bulgarian-language training for migrant children (school-based intensive language preparation). How to enrol a child (mon.gov.bg).
A country-wide rule for Bulgaria; Pernik's school authority applies it locally.
Sources: eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · 2025–2026.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
How many people live in Pernik?
The published population was 80,576 people in 2025. Source: NSI Infostat 1062 — population by sex, residence districts and municipalities.
How much does it cost to rent in Pernik?
Average net cold rent is 1.17 EUR/m² per month (2020), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 82 EUR a month before utilities. Source: NSI City Statistics — Average annual rent for housing (per m2), Euro/m2.
Is the air quality good in Pernik?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 17 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data.
How safe is Pernik?
Police recorded about 1,140 incidents per 100,000 (2025). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Report on the activity of the Ministry of Interior in 2025, Figure 2: registered crimes per 100,000 population.
What is the unemployment rate in Pernik?
The unemployment rate is 9 % (September 2021). Source: NSI Infostat 2016 — activity, employment and unemployment rates by municipality.
How many foreign residents live in Pernik?
481 residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Eurostat — City statistics, urb_cpopcb (indicator DE2012V), Pernik.
Is Pernik a good place to live?
Pernik may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Pernik, Bulgaria: population, rent, salary, cost of living [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 2acd0bfb38ddc3c830d925f8466687fd]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/bg/pernik/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_pernik-bulgaria-population-rent-salary-cost-of-living_9614e5636636,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Pernik, Bulgaria: population, rent, salary, cost of living},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-16},
version = {2acd0bfb38ddc3c830d925f8466687fd},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/bg/pernik/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Pernik, Bulgaria: population, rent, salary, cost of living](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/bg/pernik/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 2acd0bfb38ddc3c830d925f8466687fd; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
- A1 Bulgaria fixed internet a1.bg · checked 2026-09-15
- Average annual wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract by statistical regions and districts in 2024 (EUR) nsi.bg · checked 2026-09-23
- EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-26
- EEA air quality statistics — BG NO2 annual mean 2024 (station AMS Center-Pernik) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- EEA air quality statistics — BG PM10 annual mean 2024 (station AMS Center-Pernik) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
- Eurostat — City statistics, urb_cpopcb (indicator DE2012V), Pernik Eurostat · ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- Eurostat GISCO, European Commission gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-03
- migrationfit.com migrationfit.com · checked 2026-06-14
- NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center power.larc.nasa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
Show 7 more sources
- NSI City Statistics — Average annual rent for housing (per m2), Euro/m2 NSI City Statistics · nsi.bg · checked 2026-09-18
- NSI Infostat 1062 — population by sex, residence districts and municipalities NSI Infostat 1062 · nsi.bg · checked 2026-07-27
- NSI Infostat 2016 — activity, employment and unemployment rates by municipality NSI Infostat 2016 · nsi.bg · checked 2026-07-27
- OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
- OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
- Report on the activity of the Ministry of Interior in 2025, Figure 2: registered crimes per 100,000 population mvr.bg · checked 2026-09-28
- Vivacom mobile data plan vivacom.bg · checked 2026-09-15
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.