😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,309 in St. Thomas versus $907 in Kazanlak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in St. Thomas versus $1,454 in Kazanlak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,497 in St. Thomas versus $2,000 in Kazanlak.
🌍Living in St. Thomas is roughly 155% more expensive than in Kazanlak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: St. Thomas is 69% above, Kazanlak is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.46CA$30.03
$14.58BGN 24.25
47.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5CA$90.2
$59.7BGN 99.3
8.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39CA$15.94
$9.34BGN 15.53
21.95%
Cappuccino
$3.42CA$4.79
$2.38BGN 3.95
43.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.97
$1.62BGN 2.69
30.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64CA$2.30
$1.20BGN 1.99
36.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96CA$6.94
$2.37BGN 3.95
109.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15CA$8.60
$2.69BGN 4.48
128.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CA$3.01
$1.86BGN 3.10
15.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.73CA$3.81
$1.04BGN 1.73
162.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.68CA$5.15
$2.42BGN 4.03
52.07%
Eggs
$3.19CA$4.46
$3.60BGN 5.99
-11.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29CA$13.00
$9.95BGN 16.55
-6.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.28CA$22.77
$6.52BGN 10.85
149.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.78CA$27.67
$8.77BGN 14.60
125.54%
Apples(1kg)
$4.07CA$5.70
$1.30BGN 2.16
213.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.84
$1.70BGN 2.83
-22.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94CA$5.51
$1.80BGN 2.99
118.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96CA$5.55
$2.01BGN 3.34
97.01%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39CA$4.74
$0.99BGN 1.64
242.42%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17CA$4.44
$0.74BGN 1.23
328.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.03CA$4.24
$0.61BGN 1.01
396.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51CA$2.11
$0.69BGN 1.14
118.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.36CA$15.89
$3.82BGN 6.35
197.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.82CA$17.94
$5.18BGN 8.61
147.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47CA$3.45
$1.18BGN 1.97
109.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80CA$3.92
$1.73BGN 2.88
61.85%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.20CA$3.08
$0.63BGN 1.04
249.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.9CA$90.9
$13.20BGN 21.97
391.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.45CA$3.43
$1.37BGN 2.29
78.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70CA$2.38
$0.64BGN 1.06
165.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.48CA$31.45
$11.74BGN 19.53
91.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10CA$1.54
$1.72BGN 2.86
-36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KCA$40.2K
$31.5KBGN 52.5K
-8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KCA$29.1K
$21.7KBGN 36.1K
-4.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126CA$176
$96.9BGN 161
29.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.17CA$61.8
$15.44BGN 25.68
186.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3CA$80.1
$12.78BGN 21.26
348.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.42CA$59.4
$23.62BGN 39.29
79.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75CA$27.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.70CA$14.98
$9.17BGN 15.26
16.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414CA$580
$241BGN 400
72.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2KCA$24.0K
$2,407BGN 4,004
612.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1CA$77.1
$31.05BGN 51.7
77.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.59CA$51.2
$19.90BGN 33.10
83.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2CA$115
$66.3BGN 110
23.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8CA$130
$53.6BGN 89.1
73.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,161CA$1,625
$355BGN 590
227.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,104CA$1,544
$241BGN 400
358.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063CA$2,887
$712BGN 1,184
189.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,611CA$2,254
$349BGN 581
361.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,240CA$5,932
$1,250BGN 2,079
239.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,630CA$5,079
$1,015BGN 1,689
257.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Thomas
Kazanlak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,089CA$4,322
$1,540BGN 2,562
100.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
2.9
72.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St. Thomas: September 15, 2026
Last update for Kazanlak: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,161 in St. Thomas and $355 in Kazanlak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St. Thomas pays 101% 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: $64.0 in St. Thomas vs $60.0 in Kazanlak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $211 per month, with Kazanlak cheaper across the board.
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
St. Thomas vs Kazanlak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kazanlak cheaper than St. Thomas?
Kazanlak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 155% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: St. Thomas or Kazanlak?
Average pay runs 101% higher in St. Thomas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between St. Thomas and Kazanlak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,161 in St. Thomas versus $355 in Kazanlak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $414 in St. Thomas versus $241 in Kazanlak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in St. Thomas and in Kazanlak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in St. Thomas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in St. Thomas or in Kazanlak?
At $907 in Kazanlak versus $2,309 in St. Thomas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kazanlak but tight or insufficient in St. Thomas. The gap between the two cities makes Kazanlak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in St. Thomas or in Kazanlak?
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.
Which city is safer, St. Thomas or Kazanlak?
Safety-wise, St. Thomas and Kazanlak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kazanlak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in St. Thomas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
St. Thomas vs other spots: cost of living compared