Eastern European crew rates compared
Day rates for key crew roles across Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Czechia and Poland, with the UK for reference.
Bulgaria and Serbia are close, with Bulgaria holding a slight edge on crew cost. Across the core roles compared here, Bulgaria runs around 14% below Serbia and Czechia, 12% below Romania, 34% below Hungary and 79% below Poland. Against the UK, a Bulgarian crew costs roughly a third of the published APA rate for the same team, and against most Western European markets total production costs typically come in 30 to 40 percent lower. Serbia narrows the gap on larger jobs through its 20% commercial rebate. The day rate is only part of the picture, and the sections below cover what it doesn't tell you.
Rates vary between production companies within every market. Treat these as indicative ranges, not quotes.
Most rate comparisons in this region are assertions. This one is a table. Figures reflect market rates for international commercial productions in each country, compiled from current quotes and our own production data.
What's in these numbers
Labour only. No kit fees, no agency or service fees, no VAT.
Day rates, not project fees. Senior creative roles such as line producer, production designer and DOP are quoted as project fees in most of these markets and are shown separately further down.
Min to max means mid-level to senior. Min is an experienced crew member on a standard commercial. Max is a senior, top-tier crew member on a high-end job.
Collection dates vary. Bulgaria, Serbia and Poland were collected in September 2026, Czechia in August 2026, Hungary in August 2025 and Romania in January 2025. The two older sets are likely to have drifted upward.
Core crew, day rates in EUR
| Role | Bulgaria | Serbia | Romania | Czechia | Hungary | Poland | UK (APA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Manager | 220 to 300 | 250 to 350 | 270 to 330 | 300 to 330 | 290 to 380 | 400 to 450 | approx. 650 |
| 1st Assistant Director | 300 to 390 | 450 to 550 | 320 to 390 | 400 to 440 | 450 to 600 | 680 to 705 | approx. 930 |
| Key Gaffer | 240 to 260 | 240 to 280 | 270 to 330 | 260 to 300 | 315 to 385 | 410 to 425 | approx. 675 |
| Key Grip | 250 | 240 to 280 | 270 to 330 | 260 to 300 | 300 to 360 | 240 to 376 | approx. 660 |
| Key Makeup Artist | 260 to 300 | 250 to 275 | 270 to 330 | 260 to 300 | 300 to 330 | 450 to 825 | approx. 695 |
| Index (Bulgaria = 100) | 100 | 114 | 112 | 114 | 134 | 179 | 261 |
UK figures are converted from the APA Recommended Crew Terms, September 2026 card, which governs UK commercial production. Sterling conversions are approximate and move with the exchange rate.
Read the index row as the cost of the same five people for one day. Hiring that team in London costs about two and a half times what it costs in Sofia.
Wider crew, day rates in EUR
| Role | Bulgaria | Serbia | Romania | Czechia | Hungary | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Coordinator | 200 to 240 | 230 to 250 | 200 to 240 | 180 to 210 | 250 to 300 | 680 to 1,750 |
| Location Manager | 250 to 280 | n/a | 270 to 330 | 260 to 300 | 350 to 390 | n/a |
| 2nd Assistant Director | 180 to 220 | 225 to 275 | n/a | n/a | 250 to 450 | 410 to 590 |
| 3rd Assistant Director | 110 to 140 | 150 to 200 | n/a | n/a | 100 to 150 | n/a |
| 1st Assistant Camera | 380 to 400 | n/a | 270 to 330 | 340 to 370 | 330 to 350 | 440 to 500 |
| 2nd Assistant Camera | 230 to 250 | n/a | 180 to 220 | 260 to 300 | 240 to 255 | 400 to 450 |
| DIT | 300 to 350 | n/a | 315 to 385 | 400 to 440 | 430 to 500 | 400 to 450 |
| Best Boy Electric | 180 to 200 | n/a | 210 to 250 | 260 to 300 | 220 to 230 | 290 to 320 |
| Electrician | 180 to 200 | n/a | 170 to 210 | 170 to 210 | 170 to 180 | 290 to 320 |
| Grip | 180 to 200 | n/a | 170 to 210 | 220 to 250 | 170 to 180 | n/a |
| Sound Mixer | 230 to 250 | n/a | 270 to 330 | n/a | 380 to 400 | 350 to 400 |
| Production Assistant | 110 to 160 | n/a | 160 to 200 | 130 to 170 | 120 to 130 | n/a |
| Driver | 150 to 180 | n/a | n/a | 220 to 250 | 85 to 380 | 200 to 230 |
Romania is cheaper than Bulgaria on camera assistants and electricians. Czechia is cheaper on production coordinators. No market is cheapest on everything.
Roles quoted as project fees, in EUR
| Role | Bulgaria | Romania | Hungary | Czechia | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line Producer | 3,500 to 4,100 | 4,500 to 5,500 | 3,500 to 4,800 | 4,800 to 5,800 | 6,000 to 6,500 |
| Production Designer | 3,900 to 4,100 | n/a | n/a | 4,900 to 5,300 | 2,600 to 3,000 |
| Art Director | 2,400 to 2,600 | n/a | 2,400 to 2,600 | 1,500 to 1,800 | n/a |
| Director of Photography | 1,500 to 2,000 | n/a | 2,250 to 2,750 | 2,500 to 2,800 | 2,000 to 2,300 |
| Stylist (Wardrobe) | 1,700 to 2,500 | n/a | 500 to 1,100 | n/a | 1,500 to 1,800 |
These are whole-project figures and depend heavily on shoot length and complexity. The line producer gap is the one worth noting: the same role costs 56% more in Czechia and 71% more in Poland than in Bulgaria.
What the day rate doesn't tell you
Four things move the final invoice as much as the rate does.
How long the day is. Bulgaria and Serbia run a 12-hour day, 11 working hours plus a one-hour lunch. Poland runs 11 hours, 10 working plus lunch. So a Polish crew member costs more per day and delivers one hour less inside it.
How many people are on it. A typical one-day commercial in Bulgaria runs 35 to 50 crew on set. In Serbia the equivalent is 60 to 80. That difference compounds with the rate difference: Serbian crew cost about 14% more each, and a Serbian call sheet is often substantially longer. On total labour cost, the gap is wider than the rate table suggests.
What happens outside the basic day. Bulgaria and Serbia charge no weekend, public holiday or night premium. In Poland, weekend and holiday work is charged at 150% of the day rate, and some production companies apply the same premium to night shoots. Bulgarian overtime is progressive: hours 12 to 16 at the day rate divided by 11 times 1.6, hour 17 onward at times 2.0.
Prelight and prep. Bulgaria and Serbia charge prelight at the full day rate as standard, though in Bulgaria a prelight under six hours is often negotiated at 50%, depending on the crew and the length of the overall booking. Poland applies the 50% rule for prelights under six hours as a matter of course. Serbia adds a genuine advantage: light and grip equipment is not charged on the prelight day.
Practical differences beyond crew
| Bulgaria | Serbia | Czechia | Poland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard day | 12 hours | 12 hours | n/a | 11 hours |
| Minimum turnaround | 12 hours | 12 hours | 10 hours | 7 to 14 hours |
| Weekend or holiday premium | None | None | None | 150% |
| City-centre permit lead time | 1 to 2 weeks | 10 to 15 days | 2 to 3 weeks | approx. 30 days |
| Drone permit | Not needed outside cities | Usually none needed | Required | Usually none needed |
| Commercial cash rebate | No | Yes, 20% above €150,000 | No | No |
The permit column matters more than it looks. A month of lead time in Poland against one to two weeks in Bulgaria is the difference between locking a location inside a normal pre-production window and building the schedule around the paperwork.
Why Bulgaria comes out lowest
Three reasons, and none of them is a lower standard of work.
A lower cost base, not lower skill. Bulgaria has serviced international productions for over two decades. Heads of department carry credits on major Hollywood features shot in the country. The rate reflects what it costs to live and operate in Sofia, not the quality of the work.
Leaner crews. A Bulgarian commercial runs with fewer people on set than a comparable Serbian one, because the infrastructure is concentrated and the crew is used to working that way.
Fewer premiums. No weekend loading, no holiday loading, no night loading. On a weekend shoot, that alone can outweigh a rate difference of 10 or 15%.
The honest caveat on Serbia
Serbia's crew costs about 14% more than Bulgaria's, and it is the only market in this comparison that rebates a TV commercial, at 20% of qualifying local spend above a €150,000 minimum.
Above that threshold, the rebate can outweigh the crew premium on pure cost. Two things still count against it. The money arrives after wrap and after audit, so it helps the final figure rather than the cash flow. And the larger typical crew size means the Serbian labour bill starts higher before the rebate is applied.
Below €150,000 of local spend, the rebate does not apply at all, and Bulgaria is cheaper outright.
The only reliable answer is to budget both. Full detail on the rebate is in our guide to film incentives for commercials in Eastern Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Which Eastern European country has the cheapest film crew?
How much cheaper is Bulgarian crew than UK crew?
Are these day rates or project fees?
Do the rates include equipment?
Which country has the longest standard shooting day?
Does a cheaper day rate mean a cheaper shoot?
About this guide
Compiled by Vivid Films, a production service company based in Sofia working across Bulgaria, the Balkans and Southeast Europe, with local partnerships in Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Czechia and Poland. Reviewed annually.
If you're comparing two markets for a specific job, send us the brief and we'll budget both.
Sources
- Current market quotes in each country; Vivid Films production data; APA Recommended Terms for Engaging Crew on the Production of Commercials, September 2026; Bulgarian National Film Center; Film Center Serbia.
- Rates are indicative and vary by production company, experience, project scope and shoot length.
