Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Samokov

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,052 in Samokov, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
50

Cost of Living Index in Samokov
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Samokov Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Samokov

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

$1,052

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Samokov actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,052 in Samokov, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Samokov $1,052

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,641 in Samokov, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Samokov $1,641

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,229 in Samokov, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Samokov $2,229

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Samokov, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Samokov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Samokov 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.9

$9.18 BGN 16.06

-76.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$45.91 BGN 80.3

-59.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$9.87 BGN 17.27

-43.26%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.0

$2.78 BGN 4.87

-40.29%

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

$0.65 ฿21.80

$1.75 BGN 3.06

-62.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.28

$1.52 BGN 2.66

-80.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$2.58 BGN 4.52

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$4.29 BGN 7.50

-14.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.9

$1.74 BGN 3.05

16.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.45

$1.18 BGN 2.06

19.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.90

$2.24 BGN 3.92

-37.95%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.8

$3.77 BGN 6.59

-37.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$11.31 BGN 19.80

46.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.0

$8.18 BGN 14.32

-67.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$14.13 BGN 24.73

-36.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.8

$1.63 BGN 2.86

47.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.09

$1.81 BGN 3.17

-42.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.97 BGN 3.45

-15.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.5

$2.62 BGN 4.59

-40.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.71

$1.09 BGN 1.90

13.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.62

$1.05 BGN 1.83

3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.67

$1.16 BGN 2.04

-34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.33

$0.76 BGN 1.32

-32.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$3.95 BGN 6.91

4.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿604

$6.34 BGN 11.09

182.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.7

$1.18 BGN 2.06

37.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.1

$2.10 BGN 3.67

34.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.49

$0.83 BGN 1.45

12.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,782

$25.19 BGN 44.08

109.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.65

$1.25 BGN 2.18

-5.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.65 BGN 1.13

-73.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$10.19 BGN 17.84

-82.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.63

$1.76 BGN 3.08

-16.48%

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

$21.0K ฿708.1K

$29.7K BGN 51.9K

-29.17%

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

$26.5K ฿893.6K

$24.2K BGN 42.4K

9.55%

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

$62.6 ฿2,108

$113 BGN 198

-44.69%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$18.76 BGN 32.83

-38.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿684

$15.53 BGN 27.17

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,277

$31.44 BGN 55.0

20.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$16.62 BGN 29.09

-77.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$9.17 BGN 16.04

-29.01%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$510 BGN 892

42.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿558.5K

$5,364 BGN 9,387

208.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,804

$68.8 BGN 120

-22.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$42.35 BGN 74.1

-41.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,046

$95.1 BGN 166

-4.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,425

$105 BGN 183

-31.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$337 BGN 590

42.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$259 BGN 453

19.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$549 BGN 961

92.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$404 BGN 707

63.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$1,301 BGN 2,277

85.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.2K

$1,113 BGN 1,949

44.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$728 BGN 1,275

-18.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.1

79.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Samokov: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Samokov

$259 24.6% 16.6% $51

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Samokov

$252 24% 6.7% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Samokov

$140 13.3% 29.1% $32

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Samokov

$147 14% 56% $53

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Samokov

$171 16.3% 123% $94

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Samokov

$33 3.1% 43.8% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Samokov

$50 4.7% 2.2% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $337 in Samokov. 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 22% higher in Samokov. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $46 in Samokov. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $252 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇧🇬 Samokov

🕒 Local time

03:44 3:44 AM

22:44 10:44 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

25,138

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 BGN = 0.571 USD

1 BGN = 0.511 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.69 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Samokov 7,430 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Samokov

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 Samokov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Samokov costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,578 in Samokov. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samokov, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $337 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $510 in Samokov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Samokov, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,052 in Samokov. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,052 in Samokov. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Samokov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.