Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Amagasaki and Bansko

For one person, living is cheaper in Bansko: $965 a month against $1,196 in Amagasaki, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Amagasaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,196
/mo nomad
Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$965
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Amagasaki and in Bansko

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Amagasaki and in Bansko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Amagasaki versus $965 in Bansko.

  • Amagasaki $1,196
  • Bansko $965

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,898 in Amagasaki versus $1,481 in Bansko.

  • Amagasaki $1,898
  • Bansko $1,481

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,600 in Amagasaki versus $1,998 in Bansko.

  • Amagasaki $2,600
  • Bansko $1,998

Living in Amagasaki is roughly 24% more expensive than in Bansko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amagasaki 12% lower, Bansko 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12 ¥967
$8.74 BGN 15.20
-29.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.29 ¥4,944
$46.37 BGN 80.7
-32.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 ¥819
$8.92 BGN 15.52
-41.93%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥488
$2.27 BGN 3.94
36.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 ¥195
$1.57 BGN 2.73
-21.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥127
$0.89 BGN 1.54
-8.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 ¥420
$1.73 BGN 3.01
53.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 ¥484
$1.95 BGN 3.39
57.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ¥231
$1.79 BGN 3.11
-18.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥256
$0.81 BGN 1.42
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 ¥645
$1.51 BGN 2.62
170.20%
Eggs
$2.09 ¥330
$2.35 BGN 4.09
-11.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.32 ¥1,630
$9.55 BGN 16.61
8.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.73 ¥1,064
$6.63 BGN 11.54
1.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 ¥2,651
$8.37 BGN 14.57
100.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 ¥595
$1.30 BGN 2.26
190.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 ¥363
$1.68 BGN 2.93
36.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 ¥461
$1.68 BGN 2.92
73.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 ¥662
$1.92 BGN 3.34
118.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 ¥384
$0.94 BGN 1.63
158.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 ¥395
$0.75 BGN 1.31
233.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ¥196
$0.59 BGN 1.02
110.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥127
$0.58 BGN 1.02
37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 ¥607
$3.26 BGN 5.67
17.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.75 ¥1,066
$5.20 BGN 9.04
29.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥293
$1.14 BGN 1.98
62.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 ¥342
$1.74 BGN 3.03
24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 ¥239
$0.90 BGN 1.57
67.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.1 ¥8,384
$26.72 BGN 46.50
98.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ¥500
$1.30 BGN 2.26
143.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.92 ¥462
$0.61 BGN 1.06
378.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.76 ¥2,964
$10.29 BGN 17.91
82.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥175
$1.56 BGN 2.71
-28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ¥3.4M
$29.1K BGN 50.7K
-27.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ¥2.4M
$21.3K BGN 37.1K
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 ¥21.5K
$92.8 BGN 161
46.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.70 ¥3,745
$15.05 BGN 26.18
57.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.82 ¥4,870
$12.19 BGN 21.21
152.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 ¥8,378
$32.83 BGN 57.1
61.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.40 BGN 14.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.12 ¥1,915
$5.56 BGN 9.67
117.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$510 ¥80.5K
$230 BGN 400
121.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ¥2.0M
$2,295 BGN 3,994
441.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.84 ¥7,875
$30.31 BGN 52.7
64.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.38 ¥4,957
$19.41 BGN 33.78
61.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 ¥9,798
$45.34 BGN 78.9
36.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.3 ¥13.9K
$48.47 BGN 84.3
82.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$530 ¥83.8K
$514 BGN 894
3.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ¥51.9K
$361 BGN 627
-8.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 ¥177.6K
$630 BGN 1,096
78.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 ¥118.6K
$571 BGN 993
31.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,292 ¥678.0K
$1,202 BGN 2,091
257.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,754 ¥277.1K
$972 BGN 1,691
80.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amagasaki
Bansko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,008 ¥475.2K
$1,665 BGN 2,898
80.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
2.99
-26.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amagasaki: October 18, 2026

Last update for Bansko: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Amagasaki
$329
Bansko
$361 9.7% $32
Groceries & Markets
Amagasaki
$290
Bansko
$194 32.9% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amagasaki
$191
Bansko
$120 37% $71
Eating Out
Amagasaki
$129
Bansko
$146 13.2% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Amagasaki
$104
Bansko
$65 38% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Amagasaki
$77
Bansko
$44 43.1% $33
Getting Around
Amagasaki
$77
Bansko
$35 54.9% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Amagasaki and $514 in Bansko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amagasaki pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Amagasaki vs $46.00 in Bansko. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $194, with Bansko cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Amagasaki
🇧🇬 Bansko
🕒 Local time
13:05 1:05 PM
07:05 7:05 AM
6 h behind Amagasaki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
459,593
8,000
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Amagasaki Bansko 9,040 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Amagasaki
  • Bansko

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amagasaki vs Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amagasaki and in Bansko?
Amagasaki and Bansko differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,196 vs $965 including rent). Bansko is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amagasaki or Bansko?
Average pay runs 81% higher in Amagasaki, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Amagasaki and in Bansko?
Rent for a central apartment: $530 in Amagasaki versus $514 in Bansko. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Amagasaki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bansko – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $31.00 in Amagasaki. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $965 in Bansko versus $1,196 in Amagasaki, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bansko but tight or insufficient in Amagasaki. The gap between the two cities makes Bansko the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amagasaki and Bansko?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Amagasaki or Bansko safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Amagasaki and Bansko are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Amagasaki or Bansko?
Expats usually find Bansko gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Amagasaki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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