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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,474 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,005 in Shumen, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Shumen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shumen are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Shumen 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$9.72 BGN 16.18

-78.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$35.07 BGN 58.3

-44.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.12 BGN 15.17

-37.83%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.81 BGN 3.00

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.47 BGN 2.44

-47.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.05 BGN 1.74

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.91 BGN 4.83

-24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.90 BGN 4.82

30.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.91 BGN 3.17

7.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.12 BGN 1.86

34.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.60 BGN 4.33

-46.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.98 BGN 4.96

-24.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.57 BGN 15.91

69.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.06 BGN 8.42

-42.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.18 BGN 15.27

2.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.56 BGN 2.60

71.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.12 BGN 3.53

-48.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.19 BGN 3.64

-26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-35.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$2.09 BGN 3.47

-38.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.32 BGN 2.20

-19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.83 BGN 1.38

-13.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.78 BGN 1.31

-32.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.74 BGN 6.22

13.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.18 BGN 11.95

154.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.99 BGN 1.65

64.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.46 BGN 2.44

98.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$26.37 BGN 43.86

103.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.79 BGN 2.98

-34.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.52 BGN 0.86

11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.58 BGN 2.62

-8.23%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$31.9K BGN 53.0K

-34.04%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$23.1K BGN 38.5K

14.25%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$136 BGN 226

-53.14%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$18.06 BGN 30.05

-28.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$17.42 BGN 28.98

17.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$40.40 BGN 67.2

-3.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$11.74 BGN 19.53

-66.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$6.99 BGN 11.62

-5.87%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$588 BGN 979

33.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

39.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$49.68 BGN 82.6

10.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$51.8 BGN 86.2

-52.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$94.2 BGN 157

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$63.7 BGN 106

16.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$276 BGN 459

77.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$186 BGN 310

54.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$439 BGN 730

103.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$341 BGN 567

52.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,261 BGN 2,098

56.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,030 BGN 1,714

40.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,035 BGN 1,722

-41.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.25

71.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Shumen: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $276 in Shumen. 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 72% higher in Shumen, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Shumen. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Shumen – so Shumen 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 Shumen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shumen costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,414 in Shumen. 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $588 in Shumen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Shumen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Shumen at $943. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shumen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $943 in Shumen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Shumen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.