Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stara Zagora Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stara Zagora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $846 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,330 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,814 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Stara Zagora 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$9.10 BGN 15.13

-78.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.43 BGN 58.9

-48.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.16 BGN 15.23

-18.34%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.91 BGN 3.18

5.76%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.28 BGN 2.13

-33.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.73 BGN 1.22

-50.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.20 BGN 2.00

78.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.04 BGN 3.40

75.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.90 BGN 3.15

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.82 BGN 1.37

91.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.55 BGN 2.58

-23.23%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-14.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.13 BGN 15.19

77.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.36 BGN 12.25

-59.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.49 BGN 14.12

28.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.37 BGN 2.28

97.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.66 BGN 2.76

-29.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.16 BGN 3.60

-25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.01 BGN 1.69

36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.81 BGN 1.35

48.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.56 BGN 0.93

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.71 BGN 1.19

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.92 BGN 6.52

18.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.31 BGN 8.84

231.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.23 BGN 2.05

51.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.16 BGN 3.60

52.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.91 BGN 1.51

-3.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$19.02 BGN 31.65

1.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.34 BGN 2.23

1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.67 BGN 1.12

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$11.59 BGN 19.27

-29.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.49 BGN 2.47

-18.12%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$24.8K BGN 41.3K

-14.03%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$17.4K BGN 29.0K

29.20%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$101 BGN 169

-30.35%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$15.19 BGN 25.26

-7.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$11.35 BGN 18.88

54.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$19.34 BGN 32.17

117.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$17.37 BGN 28.90

-60.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.88 BGN 13.11

-24.87%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$232 BGN 386

32.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,400 BGN 3,993

519.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$38.78 BGN 64.5

43.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$19.03 BGN 31.65

37.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$77.9 BGN 130

6.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$75.2 BGN 125

-6.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$248 BGN 413

74.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$226 BGN 376

5.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$399 BGN 664

106.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$356 BGN 592

43.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,497 BGN 2,490

27.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,082 BGN 1,800

35.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,044 BGN 1,737

-44.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

47.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $248 in Stara Zagora. 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 80% higher in Stara Zagora, 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 Stara Zagora. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Stara Zagora – so Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Stara Zagora, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,269 in Stara Zagora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Stara Zagora, 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 $232 in Stara Zagora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $846 in Stara Zagora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Stara Zagora costs $846 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 Stara Zagora. 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.