A recent price comparison between Bulgaria and the Netherlands has revealed striking disparities in consumer costs, showing that Bulgarian citizens pay significantly more relative to their incomes. The civil price initiative “Antispekula” analyzed 27 basic products sold in the same retail chain across both countries and concluded that, when adjusted for average income, prices in Bulgaria are on average 66.5% higher than in the Netherlands. While nominal prices of most goods are comparable or slightly higher in Bulgaria, the burden on consumers is much heavier when income levels are taken into account. The NGO found that the real cost of basic products in Bulgaria is between 51% and 80% higher relative to purchasing power. For instance, 800 grams of white bread accounts for 0.1% of the average Bulgarian salary but only 0.04% of the average Dutch salary.