Every rate below is sourced and dated. Figures are annual, in EUR, for a single person with one income.
On ā¬100,000 a year as a founder taking dividends, Bulgaria leaves you with ā¬83,566 against ā¬72,726 ā a difference of ā¬10,840 a year.
The income at which the answer changes, derived from the same rules as the tables below. Ranges stop where a regime stops being available, so nothing is claimed beyond it.
| Gross | š§š¬ Bulgaria Employee (10% flat) |
šµš¹ Portugal Employee (standard IRS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ā¬50,000 | ā¬41,741 16.5% wedge |
ā¬33,064 33.9% wedge |
ā¬8,677 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬100,000 | ā¬86,741 13.3% wedge |
ā¬57,442 42.6% wedge |
ā¬29,298 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬200,000 | ā¬176,741 11.6% wedge |
ā¬101,497 49.3% wedge |
ā¬75,243 Bulgaria keeps more |
| Gross | š§š¬ Bulgaria Self-employed (ŃŠ²Š¾Š±Š¾Š“Š½Š° ŠæŃŠ¾ŃŠµŃŠøŃ) |
šµš¹ Portugal Self-employed (simplified regime, services) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ā¬50,000 | ā¬39,674 20.7% wedge |
ā¬33,629 32.7% wedge |
ā¬6,046 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬100,000 | ā¬85,924 14.1% wedge |
ā¬60,003 40.0% wedge |
ā¬25,922 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬200,000 | ā¬178,424 10.8% wedge |
ā¬114,294 42.9% wedge |
ā¬64,130 Bulgaria keeps more |
ā Portugal: this regime only applies up to ā¬200,000 of turnover ā above that the figures in the last row do not apply.
| Gross | š§š¬ Bulgaria EOOD dividends (10% corp + 5% dividend) |
šµš¹ Portugal Company dividends (IRC 15/19% + IRS on 50% of dividends) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ā¬50,000 | ā¬40,816 18.4% wedge |
ā¬38,855 22.3% wedge |
ā¬1,961 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬100,000 | ā¬83,566 16.4% wedge |
ā¬72,726 27.3% wedge |
ā¬10,840 Bulgaria keeps more |
| ā¬200,000 | ā¬169,066 15.5% wedge |
ā¬135,820 32.1% wedge |
ā¬33,247 Bulgaria keeps more |
Keeping more only matters if it buys more. Against the EU average, prices are 40.0% lower in Bulgaria and 14.7% lower in Portugal. So that ā¬100,000 founder income is really worth ā¬139,277 in Bulgaria and ā¬85,260 in Portugal at EU-average prices ā Bulgaria comes out ahead once prices are counted.
Price levels: Eurostat ā purchasing power parities, COICOP 2018 (prc_ppp_ind_1), Actual individual consumption (COICOP A01), 2025. Source