Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Bansko

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando, La Union: $719 a month against $956 in Bansko, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
Learn more

San Fernando, La Union Living Index
47

Cost of Living Index in Bansko
Learn more

Bansko Living Index

Jump to prices

San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$719

/mo nomad

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

$956

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union and in Bansko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $719 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $956 in Bansko, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $719
Bansko $956

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $1,467 in Bansko, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $1,102
Bansko $1,467

A family of three spends $1,485 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $1,979 in Bansko, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $1,485
Bansko $1,979

San Fernando, La Union is about 25% cheaper than Bansko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Fernando, La Union and Bansko are more affordable than the global median – San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Bansko 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 ₱248

$8.66 BGN 15.06

-54.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 ₱936

$44.94 BGN 78.2

-66.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.45 ₱154

$8.78 BGN 15.28

-72.10%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₱121

$2.33 BGN 4.05

-17.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₱39.53

$1.57 BGN 2.74

-59.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.67

$0.82 BGN 1.43

-63.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱72.3

$1.68 BGN 2.92

-31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ₱112

$1.98 BGN 3.45

-10.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱106

$1.73 BGN 3.00

-2.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 ₱67.7

$0.80 BGN 1.40

35.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱65.0

$1.44 BGN 2.51

-28.47%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱122

$2.36 BGN 4.10

-18.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 ₱402

$9.39 BGN 16.34

-32.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ₱238

$6.41 BGN 11.15

-41.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.48 ₱471

$8.48 BGN 14.76

-11.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ₱150

$1.31 BGN 2.28

81.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱101

$1.62 BGN 2.82

-1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱170

$1.73 BGN 3.01

56.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱76.1

$1.94 BGN 3.38

-37.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$0.94 BGN 1.63

140.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ₱131

$0.76 BGN 1.32

172.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱62.8

$0.55 BGN 0.95

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.41

$0.59 BGN 1.02

-1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₱187

$3.25 BGN 5.66

-8.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 ₱451

$5.20 BGN 9.05

37.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱70.0

$1.09 BGN 1.89

1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱103

$1.68 BGN 2.92

-2.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.89

$0.84 BGN 1.45

-70.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.92 ₱687

$27.06 BGN 47.09

-59.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$1.34 BGN 2.34

-39.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.52

$0.65 BGN 1.14

-67.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 ₱111

$10.06 BGN 17.51

-82.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₱64.5

$1.48 BGN 2.57

-31.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$29.1K BGN 50.7K

-27.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.3K ₱1.1M

$20.9K BGN 36.4K

-12.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$109 ₱6,863

$92.4 BGN 161

17.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.96 ₱1,068

$14.52 BGN 25.26

16.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.32 ₱1,720

$12.32 BGN 21.43

121.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.83 ₱2,067

$31.70 BGN 55.2

3.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.60 ₱290

$8.53 BGN 14.84

-46.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ₱363

$5.62 BGN 9.78

2.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$114 ₱7,179

$230 BGN 401

-50.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,119 ₱574.1K

$2,268 BGN 3,947

301.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.24 ₱2,093

$30.10 BGN 52.4

10.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.66 ₱1,112

$19.62 BGN 34.13

-9.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₱4,524

$45.86 BGN 79.8

56.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 ₱3,503

$47.69 BGN 83.0

16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.5K

$518 BGN 902

-49.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 ₱10.7K

$357 BGN 621

-52.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 ₱32.8K

$614 BGN 1,069

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ₱22.7K

$569 BGN 990

-36.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,558 ₱161.1K

$1,191 BGN 2,073

114.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,037 ₱65.3K

$959 BGN 1,669

8.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,704 BGN 2,965

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

2.99

127.09%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bansko: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

San Fernando, La Union

$183 25.5%

Bansko

$192 20.1% 4.7% $8.6

Accommodation & Living

San Fernando, La Union

$169 23.6%

Bansko

$357 37.3% 111% $188

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Fernando, La Union

$153 21.3%

Bansko

$119 12.5% 22.2% $34

Clothing & Footwear

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11.2%

Bansko

$64 6.7% 19.7% $16

Eating Out

San Fernando, La Union

$75 10.4%

Bansko

$145 15.2% 94.5% $71

Sport & Entertainment

San Fernando, La Union

$44 6.2%

Bansko

$43 4.5% 3.2% $1.4

Getting Around

San Fernando, La Union

$14 1.9%

Bansko

$35 3.7% 153% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in San Fernando, La Union versus $518 in Bansko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union versus $45.00 in Bansko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $192 – making San Fernando, La Union the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🇧🇬 Bansko

🕒 Local time

11:23 11:23 AM

06:23 6:23 AM

5 h behind San Fernando, La Union

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

83,003

8,000

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1 BGN = 0.575 USD

1 BGN = 0.511 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Fernando, La Union Bansko 9,330 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

San Fernando, La Union
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

San Fernando, La Union vs Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $719 in San Fernando, La Union, $956 in Bansko – roughly 33% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,079 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $1,434 in Bansko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, La Union, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union and $45.00 in Bansko. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $719 in San Fernando, La Union and $956 in Bansko. That's a gap of about 33%.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, La Union, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Bansko at $956. In San Fernando, La Union it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bansko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bansko has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $719 in San Fernando, La Union to $956 in Bansko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with San Fernando, La Union. 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.