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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $575 in Targovishte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,168 in Targovishte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,761 in Targovishte, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 62% more than Targovishte, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Targovishte are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Targovishte 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$7.19 BGN 11.95

-71.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$41.09 BGN 68.4

-52.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.92 BGN 11.52

-18.06%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.61 BGN 2.67

12.42%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.09 BGN 1.81

-29.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.64 BGN 1.06

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.98 BGN 1.63

125.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.22 BGN 7.03

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.54 BGN 2.56

33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.75 BGN 1.24

101.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.33 BGN 3.88

-39.91%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.73 BGN 4.55

-17.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.57 BGN 14.25

88.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.63 BGN 9.37

-48.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.83 BGN 14.69

6.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.78 BGN 2.96

50.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-41.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.80 BGN 2.99

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.73 BGN 4.54

-46.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.10 BGN 1.84

16.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.13 BGN 1.88

-6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.91 BGN 1.51

-20.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.62 BGN 1.03

-14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.52 BGN 5.86

20.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.31 BGN 10.49

189.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.72 BGN 1.20

126.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.02 BGN 1.71

184.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.46 BGN 0.76

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.20 BGN 1.99

-2.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.55 BGN 0.91

5.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$10.80 BGN 17.97

-77.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-13.69%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

-32.68%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$20.6K BGN 34.3K

28.11%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$58.9 BGN 97.9

8.12%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.68 BGN 14.43

48.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.93 BGN 21.51

58.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$17.79 BGN 29.60

119.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$23.81 BGN 39.61

-83.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.93 BGN 9.87

10.96%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$540 BGN 898

45.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$5,532 BGN 9,204

165.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$69.7 BGN 116

-20.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$42.86 BGN 71.3

-42.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$92.7 BGN 154

1.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$107 BGN 178

-30.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$149 BGN 248

228.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$385 BGN 640

131.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$349 BGN 581

49.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,425 BGN 2,371

38.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,161 BGN 1,932

24.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,287 BGN 2,141

-53.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.1

79.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Targovishte: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $149 in Targovishte. 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 114% higher in Targovishte, 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 $41.00 in Targovishte. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Targovishte – so Targovishte 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 Targovishte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 62% more than Targovishte, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $863 in Targovishte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $41.00 in Targovishte. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 Targovishte, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Targovishte 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. Targovishte costs $575 versus $932 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 Targovishte. 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.