For one person, living is cheaper in Bansko: $956 a month against $1,151 in Sur, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. The total is higher in Sur despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sur and in Bansko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,151 per month in Sur vs $956 in Bansko, rent included.
Sur $1,151
Bansko $956
A couple spends around $1,657 per month in Sur vs $1,467 in Bansko, rent included.
Sur $1,657
Bansko $1,467
A family of three spends $2,163 per month in Sur vs $1,979 in Bansko, rent included.
Sur $2,163
Bansko $1,979
😐
Sur costs about 20% more than Bansko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.
📊
Both Sur and Bansko are more affordable than the global median – Sur15% lower, Bansko29% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99OMR 1.54
$8.66BGN 15.06
-53.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.52OMR 10.21
$44.94BGN 78.2
-40.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.60OMR 2.93
$8.78BGN 15.28
-13.44%
Cappuccino
$4.98OMR 1.92
$2.33BGN 4.05
113.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74OMR 0.29
$1.57BGN 2.74
-52.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25OMR 0.10
$0.82BGN 1.43
-69.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.86OMR 4.95
$1.68BGN 2.92
665.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.11OMR 5.05
$1.98BGN 3.45
562.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59OMR 0.61
$1.73BGN 3.00
-8.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$0.80BGN 1.40
55.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74OMR 0.67
$1.44BGN 2.51
20.83%
Eggs
$1.96OMR 0.75
$2.36BGN 4.10
-16.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43OMR 2.86
$9.39BGN 16.34
-20.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.90OMR 2.66
$6.41BGN 11.15
7.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.96OMR 3.45
$8.48BGN 14.76
5.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31OMR 0.89
$1.31BGN 2.28
76.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34OMR 0.52
$1.62BGN 2.82
-17.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07OMR 0.41
$1.73BGN 3.01
-38.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$1.94BGN 3.38
-58.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76OMR 0.29
$0.94BGN 1.63
-19.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53OMR 0.20
$0.76BGN 1.32
-30.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52OMR 0.59
$0.55BGN 0.95
176.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$0.59BGN 1.02
-8.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.39OMR 2.46
$3.25BGN 5.66
96.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.37OMR 5.92
$5.20BGN 9.05
195.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.90OMR 2.27
$1.09BGN 1.89
441.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29OMR 3.96
$1.68BGN 2.92
512.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Sur
Bansko
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84BGN 1.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$27.06BGN 47.09
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34OMR 1.29
$1.34BGN 2.34
149.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63OMR 1.01
$0.65BGN 1.14
304.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.60OMR 2.93
$10.06BGN 17.51
-24.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57OMR 0.22
$1.48BGN 2.57
-61.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KOMR 9,710
$29.1KBGN 50.7K
-13.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KOMR 8,603
$20.9KBGN 36.4K
6.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7OMR 31.07
$92.4BGN 161
-12.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.85OMR 9.18
$14.52BGN 25.26
64.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6OMR 26.81
$12.32BGN 21.43
465.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.9OMR 32.70
$31.70BGN 55.2
167.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.53BGN 14.84
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.47OMR 4.03
$5.62BGN 9.78
86.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285OMR 110
$230BGN 401
23.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,440OMR 2,479
$2,268BGN 3,947
183.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3OMR 21.67
$30.10BGN 52.4
87.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.84OMR 16.49
$19.62BGN 34.13
118.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5OMR 34.47
$45.86BGN 79.8
95.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4OMR 33.26
$47.69BGN 83.0
81.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sur
Bansko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263OMR 101
$518BGN 902
-49.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$271OMR 104
$357BGN 621
-24.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473OMR 182
$614BGN 1,069
-23.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$387OMR 149
$569BGN 990
-32.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$562OMR 217
$1,191BGN 2,073
-52.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$529OMR 204
$959BGN 1,669
-44.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sur
Bansko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,638OMR 1,015
$1,704BGN 2,965
54.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
2.99
75.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sur: October 11, 2026
Last update for Bansko: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sur
$271 23.5%
Bansko
$357 37.3% ↑ 31.8%$86
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sur
$251 21.8%
Bansko
$192 20.1% ↓ 23.7%$60
🍽Eating Out
Sur
$209 18.2%
Bansko
$145 15.2% ↓ 30.4%$64
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
$174 15.1%
Bansko
$119 12.5% ↓ 31.5%$55
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sur
$124 10.8%
Bansko
$64 6.7% ↓ 47.9%$59
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sur
$106 9.2%
Bansko
$43 4.5% ↓ 59.4%$63
🚌Getting Around
Sur
$16 * 1.4%
Bansko
$35 3.7% ↑ 113%$19
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sur
$387 17.9%
Bansko
$569 28.8% ↑ 47.1%$182
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sur
$535 24.7%
Bansko
$451 22.8% ↓ 15.8%$84
🍽Eating Out
Sur
$523 24.2%
Bansko
$516 26.1% ↓ 1.4%$7.3
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
$198 9.2%
Bansko
$134 6.8% ↓ 32.4%$64
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sur
$275 12.7%
Bansko
$143 7.2% ↓ 47.9%$132
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sur
$212 * 9.8%
Bansko
$94 4.8% ↓ 55.4%$117
🚌Getting Around
Sur
$33 * 1.5%
Bansko
$72 3.6% ↑ 118%$39
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Sur 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.
💰Salaries run about 55% higher in Sur, 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 $27.00 in Sur versus $45.00 in Bansko. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Sur vs $192 in Bansko – so Bansko wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Sur vs Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sur and in Bansko compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,151 in Sur, $956 in Bansko – roughly 20% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Sur compared to Bansko?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,727 per month in Sur and $1,434 in Bansko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sur 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: Sur or Bansko?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,151 in Sur and $956 in Bansko. That's a gap of about 20%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sur and Bansko?
Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Sur and $230 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 $956, than in Sur at $1,151. In Bansko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sur and Bansko?
It depends on your priorities. Bansko has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $956 in Bansko to $1,151 in Sur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sur 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 Sur and Bansko?
If budget matters most, go with Bansko. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.