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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $763 in Sliven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,234 in Sliven, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,706 in Sliven, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Sliven, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sliven are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sliven 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$8.96 BGN 14.91

-78.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.15 BGN 58.5

-47.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.81 BGN 14.65

-15.10%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.93 BGN 3.20

4.66%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.32 BGN 2.20

-35.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.88 BGN 1.46

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.82 BGN 3.02

17.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.34 BGN 3.89

53.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.57 BGN 2.61

5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.84 BGN 1.40

86.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.19 BGN 3.65

-45.66%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.25 BGN 3.74

-13.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$8.02 BGN 13.35

101.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.49 BGN 9.13

-45.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.96 BGN 11.59

57.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.49 BGN 2.48

81.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.70 BGN 2.83

-31.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.43 BGN 2.37

18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.21 BGN 3.68

-27.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.52 BGN 0.87

165.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.89 BGN 1.48

34.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-36.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.49 BGN 0.81

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.60 BGN 5.98

28.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.08 BGN 10.12

189.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.07 BGN 1.78

73.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.28 BGN 2.14

157.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.69 BGN 1.14

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$36.52 BGN 60.8

-47.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.15 BGN 1.91

18.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.74 BGN 1.23

81.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$8.59 BGN 14.29

-4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-18.67%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$32.7K BGN 54.5K

-34.80%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$28.0K BGN 46.5K

-19.48%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$86.8 BGN 144

-18.57%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.78 BGN 29.57

-21.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$9.46 BGN 15.73

84.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$23.71 BGN 39.44

77.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$14.85 BGN 24.71

-53.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.95 BGN 9.89

-0.50%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$430 BGN 715

-28.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$7,076 BGN 11.8K

110.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$58.9 BGN 98.0

-5.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$23.14 BGN 38.50

12.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$71.2 BGN 118

16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$62.2 BGN 104

13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$239 BGN 398

80.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$145 BGN 241

64.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$340 BGN 565

142.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$267 BGN 444

91.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,159 BGN 1,929

65.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$954 BGN 1,587

53.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,329 BGN 2,211

-56.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

17.65%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sliven: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $239 in Sliven. 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 129% higher in Sliven, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Sliven. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $182 in Sliven – so Sliven 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 Sliven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Sliven, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,144 in Sliven. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $430 in Sliven. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $763 in Sliven, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sliven costs $763 versus $861 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 Sliven. 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.