Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bansko and Lome

For one person, living is cheaper in Lome: $557 a month against $970 in Bansko, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$970
/mo nomad
Lome
🇹🇬 Togo
$557
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bansko and in Lome

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

A single person spends $970 per month in Bansko vs $557 in Lome, rent included.

  • Bansko $970
  • Lome $557

A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Bansko vs $980 in Lome, rent included.

  • Bansko $1,464
  • Lome $980

A family of three spends $1,957 per month in Bansko vs $1,404 in Lome, rent included.

  • Bansko $1,957
  • Lome $1,404

Bansko costs about 74% more than Lome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Bansko and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Bansko 28% lower, Lome 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66 BGN 15.15
$2.94 F CFA 1,718
194.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 BGN 81.6
$30.61 F CFA 17.9K
52.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.01 BGN 15.77
$5.64 F CFA 3,301
59.75%
Cappuccino
$2.24 BGN 3.92
$5.65 F CFA 3,307
-60.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 BGN 2.63
$4.22 F CFA 2,470
-64.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 BGN 1.51
$0.70 F CFA 407
22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 BGN 3.07
$0.96 F CFA 560
83.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 BGN 3.51
$1.74 F CFA 1,018
14.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 BGN 3.14
$2.22 F CFA 1,302
-19.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 BGN 1.42
$1.36 F CFA 795
-40.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 BGN 2.66
$1.49 F CFA 872
2.01%
Eggs
$2.30 BGN 4.02
$2.04 F CFA 1,194
12.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.60 BGN 16.81
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 BGN 11.06
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 BGN 15.12
$5.70 F CFA 3,334
51.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 BGN 2.24
$2.92 F CFA 1,710
-56.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 BGN 2.95
$1.67 F CFA 976
0.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 BGN 2.98
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.89 BGN 3.30
$2.55 F CFA 1,489
-25.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 BGN 1.63
$1.75 F CFA 1,024
-46.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 BGN 1.32
$1.18 F CFA 692
-35.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 BGN 0.95
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 BGN 1.02
$0.83 F CFA 487
-30.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 BGN 6.02
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.14 BGN 9.00
$4.85 F CFA 2,835
5.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 BGN 1.94
$1.09 F CFA 640
1.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 BGN 2.97
$1.40 F CFA 820
21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bansko
Lome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 BGN 1.55
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.76 BGN 46.83
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 BGN 2.26
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 BGN 1.14
$1.22 F CFA 714
-46.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.18 BGN 17.81
$4.24 F CFA 2,482
140.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 BGN 2.63
$1.23 F CFA 720
21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K BGN 50.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K BGN 37.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 BGN 160
$146 F CFA 85.6K
-37.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.68 BGN 25.68
$21.33 F CFA 12.5K
-31.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.07 BGN 21.12
$42.15 F CFA 24.7K
-71.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.28 BGN 56.5
$60.5 F CFA 35.4K
-46.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.60 BGN 15.05
$8.77 F CFA 5,132
-1.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.63 BGN 9.86
$4.22 F CFA 2,467
33.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 BGN 400
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,311 BGN 4,045
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.48 BGN 53.3
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.01 BGN 33.26
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.53 BGN 79.7
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.67 BGN 85.2
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bansko
Lome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 BGN 913
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 BGN 643
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$634 BGN 1,110
$1,196 F CFA 699.6K
-46.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$558 BGN 976
$294 F CFA 172.2K
89.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,204 BGN 2,106
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$971 BGN 1,699
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bansko
Lome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,670 BGN 2,923
$295 F CFA 172.7K
466.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
0
-

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

Last update for Bansko: October 6, 2026

Last update for Lome: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bansko
$367
Lome
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Bansko
$193
Lome
$140 * 27.5% $53
Eating Out
Bansko
$145
Lome
$136 6.3% $9.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bansko
$118
Lome
$210 77.4% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Bansko
$65
Lome
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Bansko
$44
Lome
$69 58.3% $25
Getting Around
Bansko
$35
Lome
$6.1 * 82.5% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 466% higher in Bansko, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Bansko versus $31.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $140 – making Lome the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Bansko
🇹🇬 Lome
🕒 Local time
10:01 10:01 AM
07:01 7:01 AM
3 h behind Bansko
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
837,437 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.509 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.52 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bansko Lome 4,540 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bansko
  • Lome

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
Bansko vs Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bansko and in Lome compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $970 in Bansko, $557 in Lome – roughly 74% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Bansko compared to Lome?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Bansko and $836 in Lome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Bansko and $31.00 in Lome. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bansko or Lome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $970 in Bansko and $557 in Lome. That's a gap of about 74%.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $557, than in Bansko at $970. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bansko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bansko and Lome?
It depends on your priorities. Bansko has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $557 in Lome to $970 in Bansko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bansko or Lome safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bansko and Lome?
If budget matters most, go with Lome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bansko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Bansko vs other spots: cost of living compared

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