In August 2026, the typical price of apartments in the 16 tracked cities reached €2,029 /sq m (the typical price — the value below which half of the market is offered and above which is the other half (the median)), representing an increase of +3.8% compared to July. At the same time, active property supply recorded an extremely sharp decline — by month-end only 28,686 active listings remained on the market, compared to nearly 50,000 in the previous month.
This combination of rising prices and significantly reduced supply is the main signal for August: buyers face higher prices and substantially limited choice. While urban markets are appreciating, resort locations report falling prices, highlighting different dynamics between these two segments.
National Price Index
imotesa index: 103.8 (base: June 2026 = 100)
The index series starts from June 2026 when measurement methodology became comparable over time. Data for January–May 2026 were calculated differently and are not included in this series.
The index is calculated based on data from the 16 tracked cities representing about 75.2% of monitored apartment supply nationwide. The typical price of €2,029 /sq m reflects the value below which half of the market is offered and above which is the other half; it is weighted according to active listings per city. As of August 31, 2026 there were 28,686 active properties on the market.
Cities in The Index
Within the 16 tracked cities there are significant differences both in price levels and monthly dynamics. Sofia remains the most expensive market with a typical price of €2,605 /sq m while Kardzhali is most affordable at €1,063 /sq m. The largest monthly price increase was recorded in Veliko Tarnovo (+2.7%), while Targovishte saw a notable decline (-4.3%). Some cities like Burgas and Pleven experienced price decreases whereas others remained relatively stable or showed slight increases.
| City | Typical price (€/sqm) | Change vs previous month | Active properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia | 2,605 | +1% | 12,131 |
| Plovdiv | 1,500 | +0,3% | 5,227 |
| Varna | 1,903 | — | 4,643 |
| Burgas | 1,772 | -1,7% | 1,051 |
| Stara Zagora | 1,332 | +0,9% | 756 |
| Ruse | 1,449 | +0,3% | 1,111 |
| Pleven | 1,379 | -2,4% | 664 |
| Shumen | 1,564 | +1,2% | 741 |
| Veliko Tarnovo | 1,534 | +2,7% | 596 |
| Kardzhali | 1,063 | -2,2% | 393 |
| Pernik | 1,490 | +1% | 333 |
| Vratsa | 1,450 | +0,8% | 228 |
| Pazardzhik | 1,115 | +1,4% | 245 |
| Dobrich | 1,078 | — | 223 |
| Haskovo | 1,194 | — | 163 |
| Targovishte | 1,136 | -4,3% | 181 |
Resorts — A Separate Market
The resort segment follows a different trajectory than urban markets. The typical price across nine tracked resort locations is €1,435 /sq m with a reported decline of -1.7% compared to July. This market has no separate price index; data reflect lower prices and greater volatility among individual resorts. Some resorts like Pomorie saw growth (+3.6%), while Byala experienced a drop reaching -4.7%.
| Location | Typical price (€/sqm) | Change vs previous month | Active properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sveti Vlas | 1,512 | -0,1% | 778 |
| Sozopol | 1,597 | +1,4% | 506 |
| Pomorie | 1,568 | +3,6% | 319 |
| Bansko | 1,257 | +0,3% | 556 |
| Nesebar | 1,618 | -2% | 297 |
| Primorsko | 1,442 | -2,6% | 196 |
| Byala | 1,041 | -4,7% | 176 |
| Tsarevo | 1,299 | -0,2% | 133 |
| Balchik | 1,096 | -0,2% | 169 |
Change Compared To Previous Period
The typical apartment price in tracked cities rose from €1,955 /sq m in July to €2,029 /sq m in August representing an increase of +3.8%. During this period active property numbers dropped sharply from 49,865 to just 28,686 — an extremely steep reduction in supply.
What This Means For Buyers
Market Situation:
For buyers August 2026 brought simultaneously higher prices and significantly limited choice among active listings. This means finding suitable property becomes harder while purchase prices are higher than last month’s levels. In some cities like Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo increases are more pronounced whereas others such as Targovishte and Pleven show declines highlighting need for local market comparison.
Financing:
At a typical apartment price of €182,716 with a down payment of 20% and mortgage at an annual interest rate of 3.05% over thirty years estimated monthly payment stands at €620. In Sofia where prices are highest monthly payments reach €848 whereas Plovdiv’s are €443. These conditions are illustrative; actual offers may vary depending on bank and buyer profile.
What This Index Does Not Show
Currently no reliable annual comparison exists since comparable historical series starts only from June 2026; earlier data were calculated using different methodology and are not included here.
Conclusion
August 2026 stands out with simultaneous increase in typical prices alongside sharp restriction on apartment supply across sixteen tracked cities creating a more expensive and competitive market for buyers while resort segment moves oppositely with falling prices. The main takeaway for this period is that buyers should prepare for higher prices coupled with less choice as dynamics between individual cities and resorts remain diverse.
Cite as: imotesa index, Imotesa.bg, August 2026. Index value: 103.8 (base: June 2026 = 100). The index aggregates typical per sq m prices (median) for apartments offered for sale during August 2026 across sixteen tracked cities weighted by number of active listings per city — calculated from 28 686 active properties available at that date. The resort subindex covers nine separate locations (~9.3% out of 3 130 active properties), weighted similarly. These cities cover approximately 75.2% of monitored supply at calculation date; full rules described at imotesa methodology.