Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Burgas Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Burgas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,134 in Burgas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,714 in Burgas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,294 in Burgas, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Burgas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Burgas 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.93 BGN 19.85

-83.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$41.19 BGN 68.5

-54.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.95 BGN 14.89

-12.63%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.55 BGN 4.25

-23.53%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.31 BGN 2.18

-35.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.65 BGN 1.08

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.00 BGN 3.32

6.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.98 BGN 4.96

25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.66 BGN 2.76

3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.93 BGN 1.55

75.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-41.54%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.36 BGN 5.59

-42.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.66 BGN 16.06

67.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.91 BGN 13.16

-60.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.53 BGN 19.18

-5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.96 BGN 3.27

40.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.07 BGN 3.44

-41.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.01 BGN 3.34

-19.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.57 BGN 4.27

-38.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.44 BGN 2.39

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.31 BGN 2.17

-10.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.02 BGN 1.69

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.77 BGN 1.28

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.52 BGN 5.85

33.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.68 BGN 11.12

179.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.02 BGN 1.70

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.73 BGN 2.88

86.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.90 BGN 1.50

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$34.91 BGN 58.1

-44.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.21 BGN 2.01

16.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.67 BGN 1.11

92.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.22 BGN 21.99

-40.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.54 BGN 2.57

-17.53%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.1K BGN 53.5K

-33.79%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.0K BGN 43.2K

-14.44%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$93.3 BGN 155

-25.95%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$16.36 BGN 27.21

-13.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.05 BGN 23.37

28.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.89 BGN 51.4

32.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.05 BGN 25.03

-53.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.65 BGN 14.39

-31.56%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$234 BGN 388

28.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,083 BGN 6,793

266.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$59.6 BGN 99.1

-8.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$42.36 BGN 70.5

-36.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$80.9 BGN 135

5.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$71.6 BGN 119

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$508 BGN 845

-15.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$386 BGN 643

-38.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$885 BGN 1,472

-9.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$615 BGN 1,023

-16.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,512 BGN 4,179

-21.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,817 BGN 3,023

-18.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,024 BGN 1,703

-39.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

9.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burgas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $508 in Burgas. 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 66% higher in Burgas, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Burgas. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Burgas – so Burgas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai vs Burgas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $1,134 in Burgas – roughly 31% apart. Burgas costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,700 in Burgas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 82% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $234 in Burgas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Burgas at $1,134. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burgas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Burgas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,134 in Burgas. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burgas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.