X-Ray Cost in Bulgaria
What you pay with an NHIF referral (направление), at public diagnostic centres as a paid service, and at private clinics — now in euro. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Bulgaria?
If your GP or specialist gives you a referral (направление, form No. 4), the X-ray is paid by the NHIF at a contracted centre; you normally only pay the small user fee for the doctor's visit (about €1.48). Paying yourself, a plain X-ray costs roughly €15–24 per area (about $17–27): the Aleksandrovska University Hospital diagnostic centre in Sofia charges €15.34 for spine, knee or ankle and €20.45 for a chest X-ray, and MC Omega in Vidin lists €20–24. Since 1 January 2026 prices are in euro (1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN).
Quick Overview
Bulgaria has a single public health insurer, the National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК, usually "NHIF" in English), funded by an 8% contribution on insured income (shared between employer and employee for employees). Insured patients get X-rays through a referral from their GP (личен лекар) or a specialist on the standard form for medical-diagnostic activities (бланка №4). The exam is then free at any diagnostic-consultative centre (ДКЦ), medical centre or hospital with an NHIF contract. Because GPs have monthly referral quotas, many people simply pay — and self-pay X-ray prices are low by EU standards, roughly €15–24 per area at public and private centres alike.
🏥 NHIF with referral
- Referral on form No. 4 from GP or specialist
- Any NHIF-contracted ДКЦ, medical centre or hospital
- User fee at the doctor's visit: about €1.48 (pensioners about €0.51)
- Subject to monthly referral quotas
🏨 Public centre, paid service
- Example: DKC Aleksandrovska, Sofia
- Spine, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder: €15.34
- Chest, pelvis, abdomen, wrist: €20.45
- No referral needed
🏥 Private clinics
- Example: MC Omega, Vidin — €20 limbs, €24 chest/spine
- Sofia private hospitals may charge more
- Same-day appointments are typical
- Ask whether the radiologist's report is included
X-Ray Prices in Bulgaria by Exam: NHIF vs Self-Pay
Bulgarian centres price plain X-rays per area, usually including the standard two projections. The table compares the dual-currency price list of the Aleksandrovska University Hospital diagnostic-consultative centre in Sofia (a state-owned centre, list dated 8 August 2025) with the euro price list of private medical centre MC Omega in Vidin.
| Exam | NHIF (with направление) | DKC Aleksandrovska, Sofia | MC Omega, Vidin | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (бял дроб и сърце) | Free | €20.45 (40 BGN) | €24 | $23–27 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Free | €20.45 (wrists) | €20 | $22–23 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Free | €15.34 (30 BGN) | €20 | $17–22 |
| Knee X-ray | Free | €15.34 | €20 | $17–22 |
| Cervical spine X-ray | Free | €15.34 | €24 | $17–27 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray | Free | €15.34 | €24 | $17–27 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray | Free | €20.45 | €20–24 | $22–27 |
| Abdomen X-ray (plain, БУМ) | Free | €20.45 | €24 | $23–27 |
| Skull | Free | €17.90 (35 BGN) | €24 | $20–27 |
| Mammography, both breasts | Free (with referral / screening) | €40.90 (80 BGN) | €45 | $46–50 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | Dental practice | Not on these lists — ask a dental imaging centre for a quote | — | |
| Ultrasound, abdomen | Free with referral | €25.56 (50 BGN) | — | $29 |
| CT, one area | Free with specialist referral | €102–128 (200–250 BGN) | — | $115–143 |
| MRI, one area | Free with specialist referral | €179–230 (350–450 BGN) | — | $200–258 |
DKC Aleksandrovska EOOD price list "Ценоразпис в лева и евро от 08.08.2025" (CT: €102.26 for head, joints or one spine segment, €127.82 for chest, abdomen or pelvis, €178.95 for two areas; MRI: €178.95 per joint/limb area, €204.52 abdomen/neck/chest, €230.08 brain or cervical spine, €357.90 whole spine). MC Omega "Цени рентген" page, prices in EUR. USD at the ECB reference rate of October 2026 (€1 ≈ $1.12). Prices at private hospitals in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna can be higher.
How an NHIF-Covered X-Ray Works
1. Referral (направление)
- Your GP or an NHIF-contracted specialist issues form No. 4 for medical-diagnostic activities
- Referrals are now electronic in most practices
- GPs work within monthly referral quotas (регулативни стандарти)
- CT and MRI are high-specialised and normally need a specialist
2. Contracted centre
- Diagnostic-consultative centres (ДКЦ), medical centres and hospitals with an NHIF contract
- No separate charge for the X-ray itself
- User fee at the referring visit: 2.90 BGN (about €1.48); pensioners 1 BGN (about €0.51)
- Exempt: children, pregnant women, cancer patients, people on social assistance and other listed groups
3. Paying yourself
- Any centre will do the X-ray as a paid service (платена услуга)
- Typical: €15–24 per area
- Useful when the GP's quota is used up or you need it today
- Insured status does not matter for paid services
Where to Get an X-Ray in Bulgaria
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- UMBAL "Aleksandrovska" and its DKC — Sofia
- UMBAL "Sv. Ivan Rilski" — Sofia
- UMBALSM "N. I. Pirogov" (emergency) — Sofia
- UMBAL "Sv. Georgi" — Plovdiv
- UMBAL "Sv. Marina" — Varna
- Regional ДКЦ in every district centre
🏥 Private Hospitals & Clinics
- Acibadem City Clinic — Tokuda University Hospital and other sites, Sofia
- Sofiamed University Hospital — Sofia
- Hill Clinic — Sofia
- Medical centres in most towns (e.g. MC Omega, Vidin)
- Many private centres also hold NHIF contracts
💡 Regional price differences
- Public ДКЦ prices are among the cheapest in the EU
- Private hospitals in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna charge more
- Price lists are published under "Цени" or "Ценоразпис"
- English-speaking staff are easiest to find in Sofia
Guide by Patient Type
🇧🇬 Insured residents
- Ask your GP for a направление — the X-ray is then free
- Quota used up? Ask for the next month or pay (€15–24)
- Keep health contributions paid — gaps can suspend your rights
- Specialist referral needed for CT and MRI
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK visitors
- EHIC (UK: GHIC) gives the same access as an insured Bulgarian
- Medically necessary X-rays at NHIF-contracted providers
- Present the card and passport or ID
- Private hospitals may not accept EHIC — ask first
✈️ Non-EU visitors and expats
- Emergency care is provided to everyone (dial 112)
- Non-emergency X-rays: pay as a paid service, about €15–24
- Long-term residents must pay health contributions to be covered
- Keep invoices and reports for travel insurance claims
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- ID card or passport
- Referral (направление, form No. 4) for NHIF cover
- EHIC / GHIC if visiting
- Previous images on CD/USB
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: immediate triage
- Paid X-ray: same day, often walk-in
- NHIF-referred: same day to a few weeks
- Report: same day to next working day
💡 How to save money
- Get a GP referral early in the month, before quotas run out
- Compare a public ДКЦ price list with private clinics
- Check whether two projections are included
- Convert old leva prices at 1.95583 to spot overcharging
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Bulgaria?
With a referral (направление) from your GP or specialist, the X-ray is paid by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF / НЗОК) at a contracted centre. Paying yourself, a plain X-ray costs roughly €15–24 per area (about $17–27): the Aleksandrovska University Hospital diagnostic centre in Sofia charges €15.34 for spine, knee or ankle and €20.45 for chest or pelvis, and MC Omega in Vidin lists €20 for limbs and €24 for chest, spine or abdomen.
How much is a chest X-ray (рентген на бял дроб) without a referral?
About €20–24 (roughly 40–47 leva). DKC Aleksandrovska lists 'бял дроб и сърце' at 40 BGN / €20.45 in its dual-currency price list, and MC Omega lists chest and lungs at €24. Private hospitals in Sofia may charge more, so ask for the current price.
Can I get an X-ray without a referral (снимка без направление)?
Yes. Any diagnostic-consultative centre (ДКЦ), hospital or private clinic will do an X-ray as a paid service; you pay the self-pay price instead of NHIF covering it. A doctor at the centre still has to agree the exam is justified, so bring a note from a doctor if you have one.
What is направление бланка 4?
Form No. 4 (бланка МЗ-НЗОК №4) is the referral for medical-diagnostic activities — laboratory tests and imaging such as X-rays. Your GP or a specialist issues it, and with it the X-ray is free at an NHIF-contracted centre. GPs have a monthly quota (регулативни стандарти) for these referrals, so late in the month you may be asked to come back or to pay. CT and MRI are 'high-specialised' activities normally referred by a specialist.
How much is the NHIF user fee (потребителска такса) in euro?
The user fee for a GP or specialist visit has been 2.90 BGN, which converts to about €1.48 at the fixed rate of 1.95583; pensioners pay a reduced fee of 1 BGN (about €0.51). Children, pregnant women, cancer patients, people on social assistance and several other groups are exempt. NHIF says diagnostic laboratories may not charge the user fee again for tests ordered by the GP; for imaging, expect to pay nothing beyond the fee at the referring visit, but check with the centre.
How much do CT, MRI and ultrasound cost in Bulgaria?
Self-pay examples from the DKC Aleksandrovska price list (08.08.2025, in leva and euro): CT of one area €102–128 (200–250 BGN), two areas €179; MRI €179 per joint or limb area, €205 for abdomen, neck or chest, €230 for brain or cervical spine and €358 for the whole spine; abdominal ultrasound €25.56. With a specialist referral, NHIF covers CT and MRI at contracted centres.
Are prices in Bulgaria now in euro or leva?
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. Clinics now quote in euro; older dual-currency lists show both (for example 40 BGN = €20.45). If you see a price in leva, divide by 1.95583.
Do tourists and foreigners pay for X-rays in Bulgaria?
EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with a valid EHIC (and UK visitors with a GHIC) get medically necessary care on the same terms as insured Bulgarians, including referred X-rays at NHIF-contracted providers. Non-EU tourists pay the self-pay price or claim on travel insurance. Emergency care through the emergency medical service is provided to everyone.
Do I pay for an X-ray at the emergency department?
Urgent care through the emergency medical service (ЦСМП, dial 112) and hospital emergency departments is provided free of charge to people in a genuine emergency, including X-rays needed to assess an injury. If you walk in with a non-urgent problem, the hospital may ask you to see your GP or to pay as a paid service.
How long do X-ray results take?
Plain X-rays are usually done the same day as a paid service, and the image and radiologist's description are commonly ready the same day or the next working day. NHIF-referred appointments depend on the centre's monthly capacity.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- DKC "Aleksandrovska" EOOD, Sofia — Ценоразпис в лева и евро от 08.08.2025 (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound)
- MC Omega, Vidin — "Цени рентген" price list in EUR
- National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК) — user fee (потребителска такса) rules and exempt groups
- Health Insurance Act (ЗЗО) and National Framework Agreement — referral forms and regulatory standards
- Bulgarian National Bank / Council of the EU — euro adoption on 1 January 2026 at 1.95583 BGN per euro
- European Central Bank — euro reference rates (October 2026)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Prices change and differ between centres — confirm with the provider before booking.