Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Simpson Bay and Bansko

For one person, living is cheaper in Bansko: $970 a month against $3,851 in Simpson Bay, rent and utilities included – about $34,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Simpson Bay
🇸🇽 Sint Maarten
$3,851
/mo nomad
Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$970
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Simpson Bay 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 Simpson Bay and in Bansko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,851 per month in Simpson Bay vs $970 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Simpson Bay $3,851
  • Bansko $970

A couple spends around $6,504 per month in Simpson Bay vs $1,464 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Simpson Bay $6,504
  • Bansko $1,464

A family of three spends $9,157 per month in Simpson Bay vs $1,957 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Simpson Bay $9,157
  • Bansko $1,957

Simpson Bay costs about 297% more than Bansko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Simpson Bay sits 187% above the global median, while Bansko is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.11 ANG 34.22
$8.66 BGN 15.15
120.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 ANG 234
$46.63 BGN 81.6
180.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.78 ANG 22.88
$9.01 BGN 15.77
41.84%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ANG 7.96
$2.24 BGN 3.92
98.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 ANG 5.22
$1.50 BGN 2.63
94.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ANG 5.44
$0.86 BGN 1.51
253.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.43 ANG 9.73
$1.76 BGN 3.07
208.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 ANG 7.36
$2.00 BGN 3.51
105.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.03 ANG 7.21
$1.79 BGN 3.14
125.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 ANG 5.02
$0.81 BGN 1.42
246.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.09 ANG 5.53
$1.52 BGN 2.66
103.29%
Eggs
$4.49 ANG 8.04
$2.30 BGN 4.02
95.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.93 ANG 44.63
$9.60 BGN 16.81
159.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.40 ANG 23.98
$6.32 BGN 11.06
112.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.98 ANG 30.39
$8.64 BGN 15.12
96.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 ANG 7.63
$1.28 BGN 2.24
232.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.55 ANG 6.35
$1.68 BGN 2.95
111.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.32 ANG 11.31
$1.70 BGN 2.98
271.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.06 ANG 9.05
$1.89 BGN 3.30
167.72%
Potato (1kg)
$3.96 ANG 7.08
$0.93 BGN 1.63
325.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 ANG 6.16
$0.76 BGN 1.32
352.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.06 ANG 5.47
$0.54 BGN 0.95
466.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ANG 2.64
$0.58 BGN 1.02
153.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.44 BGN 6.02
-
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 ANG 27.24
$5.14 BGN 9.00
196.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.11 BGN 1.94
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ANG 3.20
$1.70 BGN 2.97
5.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.08 ANG 5.51
$0.88 BGN 1.55
250.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.76 BGN 46.83
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.22 ANG 27.24
$1.29 BGN 2.26
1079.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.65 BGN 1.14
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.18 BGN 17.81
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ANG 2.27
$1.50 BGN 2.63
-15.33%
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
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$502 ANG 899
$91.4 BGN 160
448.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.56 ANG 63.7
$14.68 BGN 25.68
142.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.6 ANG 157
$12.07 BGN 21.12
625.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.8 ANG 134
$32.28 BGN 56.5
131.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.60 BGN 15.05
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.18 ANG 14.65
$5.63 BGN 9.86
45.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$761 ANG 1,362
$228 BGN 400
232.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K ANG 21.6K
$2,311 BGN 4,045
421.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 ANG 90.6
$30.48 BGN 53.3
66.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.59 ANG 70.9
$19.01 BGN 33.26
108.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 ANG 178
$45.53 BGN 79.7
118.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5 ANG 106
$48.67 BGN 85.2
22.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,330 ANG 4,171
$521 BGN 913
346.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,273 ANG 4,069
$367 BGN 643
518.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,007 ANG 10.8K
$634 BGN 1,110
847.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,604 ANG 10.0K
$558 BGN 976
904.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,204 BGN 2,106
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$971 BGN 1,699
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Simpson Bay
Bansko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,670 BGN 2,923
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
2.99
-

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

Last update for Simpson Bay: October 6, 2026

Last update for Bansko: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$367
Groceries & Markets
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$193
Eating Out
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$145
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$118
Clothing & Footwear
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$65
Sport & Entertainment
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$44
Getting Around
Simpson Bay
–
Bansko
$35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,330 in Simpson Bay versus $521 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 $131 in Simpson Bay versus $47.00 in Bansko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $467 vs $193 – making Bansko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇽 Simpson Bay
🇧🇬 Bansko
🕒 Local time
00:55 12:55 AM
07:55 7:55 AM
7 h ahead of Simpson Bay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,000
8,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to ANG – Netherlands Antillean Guilder Converter

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.498 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Simpson Bay Bansko 8,410 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Simpson Bay
  • 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
Simpson Bay vs Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Simpson Bay and in Bansko compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,851 in Simpson Bay, $970 in Bansko – roughly 297% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Simpson Bay compared to Bansko?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,776 per month in Simpson Bay and $1,455 in Bansko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Simpson Bay and Bansko?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bansko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Simpson Bay or Bansko?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,851 in Simpson Bay and $970 in Bansko. That's a gap of about 297%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Simpson Bay and Bansko?
Kindergarten costs $761 per month in Simpson Bay and $228 in Bansko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bansko, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Simpson Bay at $3,851. In Bansko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simpson Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Simpson Bay and Bansko?
It depends on your priorities. Simpson Bay has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $970 in Bansko to $3,851 in Simpson Bay. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Simpson Bay or Bansko 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 Simpson Bay and Bansko?
If budget matters most, go with Bansko. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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