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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $946 in Svishtov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,485 in Svishtov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,024 in Svishtov, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$14.13 BGN 23.50

-85.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$47.83 BGN 79.6

-59.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.13 BGN 15.18

-37.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.42 BGN 4.02

-25.21%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-27.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.57 BGN 0.94

-38.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.80 BGN 3.00

22.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.97 BGN 4.94

27.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.50 BGN 2.49

36.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.85 BGN 1.41

77.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-21.35%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.88 BGN 4.80

-21.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$9.34 BGN 15.53

73.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.42 BGN 9.01

-46.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.98 BGN 14.94

4.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.50 BGN 2.49

78.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-4.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.14 BGN 1.89

42.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.37 BGN 3.95

-38.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.68 BGN 1.13

88.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.45 BGN 0.75

135.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.58 BGN 0.96

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.58 BGN 0.96

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.73 BGN 6.20

13.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.00 BGN 11.65

161.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.06 BGN 1.76

53.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.15 BGN 1.92

152.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$24.73 BGN 41.15

117.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-22.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.73 BGN 1.21

-20.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$12.40 BGN 20.62

-80.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.53 BGN 2.55

-5.23%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.0K BGN 51.6K

-32.31%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$23.0K BGN 38.3K

14.76%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$111 BGN 184

-42.48%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$14.77 BGN 24.57

-12.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$8.72 BGN 14.50

135.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$31.40 BGN 52.2

24.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$17.90 BGN 29.78

-78.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.06 BGN 15.07

-27.37%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$240 BGN 399

226.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$5,975 BGN 9,940

145.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$52.9 BGN 87.9

4.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$26.70 BGN 44.41

-7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$72.0 BGN 120

30.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$70.2 BGN 117

5.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$342 BGN 570

43.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$264 BGN 438

9.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$561 BGN 933

58.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$422 BGN 703

23.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,353 BGN 2,250

45.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,108 BGN 1,844

30.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,315 BGN 2,188

-54.27%

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 Svishtov: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $342 in Svishtov. 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 119% higher in Svishtov, 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 $48.00 in Svishtov. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Svishtov – so Svishtov 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 Svishtov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Svishtov 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 $1,419 in Svishtov. 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 $240 in Svishtov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Svishtov – 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 Svishtov at $946. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Svishtov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $946 in Svishtov. 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, Svishtov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.