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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $891 in Silistra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,265 in Silistra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,639 in Silistra, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Silistra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Silistra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Silistra 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$10.77 BGN 17.92

-80.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$26.00 BGN 43.25

-24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$9.51 BGN 15.82

-40.59%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.76 BGN 2.92

2.84%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-39.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.84 BGN 1.39

-61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.87 BGN 3.11

19.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.03 BGN 3.37

78.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.80 BGN 2.99

8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.88 BGN 1.47

70.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.49 BGN 2.47

-10.07%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.42 BGN 4.03

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$9.55 BGN 15.89

70.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.61 BGN 11.00

-55.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$8.73 BGN 14.52

13.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.32 BGN 2.20

94.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-40.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.75 BGN 2.92

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$2.05 BGN 3.41

-25.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.00 BGN 1.66

27.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.74 BGN 1.23

44.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.61 BGN 1.02

18.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.68 BGN 1.14

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.85 BGN 6.40

8.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.37 BGN 8.93

232.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.13 BGN 1.88

49.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.74 BGN 2.90

63.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.92 BGN 1.53

1.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$26.50 BGN 44.09

103.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.16 BGN 1.93

6.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.67 BGN 1.12

-13.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$6.00 BGN 9.99

-59.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-5.37%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$31.3K BGN 52.0K

-31.39%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$21.5K BGN 35.8K

26.88%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$96.8 BGN 161

-34.24%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$15.34 BGN 25.53

-16.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$12.47 BGN 20.75

62.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$32.39 BGN 53.9

19.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$18.14 BGN 30.17

-78.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$7.01 BGN 11.65

-3.85%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$236 BGN 393

229.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$2,403 BGN 3,998

507.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$31.03 BGN 51.6

74.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$19.83 BGN 32.99

28.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$66.9 BGN 111

40.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$53.3 BGN 88.7

37.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$351 BGN 584

39.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$261 BGN 434

10.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$351 BGN 584

154.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$255 BGN 424

103.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,333 BGN 2,217

46.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,227 BGN 2,042

20.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$738 BGN 1,228

-18.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.99

86.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Silistra: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $351 in Silistra. 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 23% higher in Silistra, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Silistra. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Silistra – so Silistra 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 Silistra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Silistra, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,337 in Silistra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $236 in Silistra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Silistra, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Silistra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Silistra costs $891 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Silistra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.