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@Raizori

I really like Sveti Vlas and Sozopol, and I've hiked around both. Sveti Vlas is at the end of the Stara Planina so it's got a proper hill walk, plus a fancy Marina (and UNESCO Nessebar nearby). Sozopol is a very picturesque town, and larger than Sveti Vlas, it's well worth considering. They're both close to Burgas for big-city services, but, for me, they're both too small for year-round living, and I'd prefer to have a holiday flat there.

Primorsko (and nearby Kiten and Lozenets) are nice little beach towns... but they're not in the same class as the others, and definitely getting a bit far from civilization.

Balchik's a great town with the famous Botanic Gardens among other attractions, also well worth considering. But I'd guess it's pretty expensive these days.

If I had to pick a place, I have to admit I enjoy the services of a proper city. Our main flat is in central Plovdiv, and it's very hard to beat the convenience that this offers. If I wanted coastal life, I would definitely be looking at a Varna or Burgas, ideally something close to downtown, the beaches, and the Sea Garden. But this option would be VERY expensive!

As a (very) picky aside, I don't like the Black Sea! The feel of a fresh-water sea with debatable pollution standards just grosses me out. It's simply not a patch on the Med/Aegean, and that's why a lot of folks (including Bulgarians) would rather have a holiday place on the Greek or Turkish coast (especially as Turkey is probably cheaper than Bulgaria). But it's still pretty to look at during seafront walks, and for the occasional dip it's totally fine.

@Raizori

I can only really speak for Varna and further North.  I live in Varna, which, itself, has beautiful beaches, parks, shops and businesses for absolutely everything you could want and it's twenty minutes from rolling hills for hiking.  However, it depends what you want. If you don't like city life then Balchik is certainly a good compromise, as it has enough infrastructure to live year round.  Balchik is a seasonal place, very busy from May to September, then dead in the winter.  That said, all the coastal towns are pretty dead in winter.  Balchik offers the rolling countryside and hills too, has a small range of shops and businesses and isn't too far from some secluded sandy beaches.  It's  forty minutes drive to Varna and there's a bus service to/from Varna too. A taxi to Varna is around 75 Leva.

You may want to also consider how close you want to be to an airport. Both Varna and Burgas have airports. Burgas boasts more charter flights in the summer. Varna Airport has a decent selection of year round flights, including Sofia, Vienna, Istanbul, London, Brussels, Paris (new) and many German cities.

If you want something even quieter, have you looked at Kavarna, another half an hour up the road from Balchik. Kavarna also has a beautiful sandy beach, although the town itself ,is a kilometre away from the coast. However, Kavarna is flatter, more for farming.

I should also mention the climate.  Winters are bearable on the coast, with very little snow, compared to inland areas. The temperature rarely drops below zero. However, we did have some heavy snow in Varna this winter, but it disappeared in two days.

Also, you may want to consider medical help.  Balchik has a basic, regional hospital, with Varna having many hospitals, clinics and medical centres. Kavarna also has a basic hospital.

You will also find the roads quieter between Varna, Balchik and Kavarna, with very little traffic, even in summer, which, in comparison to the Varna Burgas road, is a godsend.  The Varna Burgas road isn't for the faint hearted in the summer months!

That's my perspective on Varna and northward.  Sveti Vlas southwards I'll leave to someone else.

Personally I'm biased towards Varna, compared to Burgas, but that's up to you. Burgas is a neater, tidier city,

@cyberescue1 @gwynj  Thank you so much for all the information you’ve shared — it’s been incredibly helpful!

I’ve found some properties at decent prices in Golden Sands. The area between Golden Sands and Varna seems to be a bit more expensive, at least based on what I’ve seen online. If I decide to move, I’ll definitely be looking for at least a two-bedroom flat, since I’ll be working remotely from home.

Golden Sands has a really good connection to Varna, which is a huge plus for me. Balchik is a little further away, but it seems like it might be better for year-round living.

By the way, is the Black Sea actually not great for swimming, or is it generally fine? If the sea isn’t ideal, I was also considering maybe Bansko instead.

Thanks so much again for any advice or tips you can share — I really appreciate it!