Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Haskovo

For one person, living is cheaper in Haskovo: $858 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $940 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Haskovo, Bulgaria
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Haskovo
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$858
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Haskovo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Haskovo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Haskovo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Haskovo $858

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,400 in Haskovo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Haskovo $1,400

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,942 in Haskovo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Haskovo $1,942

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Haskovo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Haskovo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Haskovo 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$9.53 BGN 16.67
-76.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$45.57 BGN 79.7
-58.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$9.80 BGN 17.15
-43.37%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$2.02 BGN 3.54
-17.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$1.23 BGN 2.15
-47.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$1.03 BGN 1.80
-69.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$1.27 BGN 2.23
85.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$4.45 BGN 7.79
-17.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.58 BGN 2.77
23.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.69 BGN 1.20
108.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$1.65 BGN 2.88
-19.39%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.21 BGN 5.62
-28.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$11.80 BGN 20.65
39.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$7.37 BGN 12.89
-62.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$8.27 BGN 14.48
12.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.55 BGN 2.71
51.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.89 BGN 3.30
-48.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.48 BGN 2.59
8.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.85 BGN 3.24
-18.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.77 BGN 1.34
66.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.90 BGN 1.58
22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.79 BGN 1.39
-10.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.69 BGN 1.20
-28.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$4.14 BGN 7.25
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$7.76 BGN 13.57
125.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$0.78 BGN 1.37
106.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$1.69 BGN 2.96
64.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.71 BGN 1.24
22.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$23.32 BGN 40.82
131.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$1.17 BGN 2.04
-0.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.72 BGN 1.25
-26.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$13.30 BGN 23.27
-81.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.61 BGN 2.82
-9.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$30.4K BGN 53.2K
-30.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$23.1K BGN 40.4K
16.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$92.6 BGN 162
-32.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$13.08 BGN 22.89
-6.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$9.46 BGN 16.55
112.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$54.1 BGN 94.7
-31.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$28.93 BGN 50.6
-86.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.12 BGN 14.22
-20.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$798 BGN 1,396
-7.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$2,289 BGN 4,006
544.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$46.12 BGN 80.7
15.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$40.43 BGN 70.8
-39.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$77.0 BGN 135
18.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$83.2 BGN 146
-13.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$230 BGN 403
109.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$164 BGN 287
88.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$369 BGN 645
172.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$299 BGN 523
111.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$1,200 BGN 2,099
96.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$966 BGN 1,691
64.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Haskovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$1,098 BGN 1,921
-46.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.89
92.73%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Haskovo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Haskovo
$164 46.9% $145
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Haskovo
$212 9.7% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Haskovo
$111 2.2% $2.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Haskovo
$115 21.9% $21
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Haskovo
$154 98.7% $77
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Haskovo
$31 49.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Haskovo
$70 39.9% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $230 in Haskovo. 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 86% higher in Haskovo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $46 in Haskovo. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Haskovo – so Haskovo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇬 Haskovo
🕒 Local time
15:33 3:33 PM
10:33 10:33 AM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
76,587
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Haskovo 7,270 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Haskovo

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
Chiang Mai vs Haskovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Haskovo?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Haskovo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Haskovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,286 in Haskovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Haskovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Haskovo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $230 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Haskovo?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $798 in Haskovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Haskovo?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Haskovo?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $858 in Haskovo. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Haskovo?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $858 in Haskovo to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Haskovo?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?