Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute (NSI) said that real estate prices in Bulgaria had, on average, risen by 28.9 per cent in 2007, compared to the year before.

Price increases in 2007 ranged between 44.3 per cent in Turgovishte to 15.6 per cent in Yambol, the NSI said.

Ranked by price increase, Sofia was fifth with 35.1 per cent, with Vidin (36.5 per cent), Silistra (38.7 per cent), Pernik (40 per cent), Rousse (140.9 per cent) and Turgovishte ranking ahead of the capital city.

Sofia was still the most expensive place to buy real estate, with an average price of 1813.17 leva a sq m, according to the NSI data.

Though the Bourgas was a close second with 1762.63 leva a sq m.

Other Bulgarian cities where real estate prices were in the above-1000-leva range included Varna, Bourgas, Rousse, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad and Pleven.

The cheapest real estate was available in the Sofia region outside the capital, where the average price was only 488.14 leva a sq m.