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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $856 in Targovishte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,353 in Targovishte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,850 in Targovishte, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Targovishte, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targovishte are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Targovishte 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$8.92 BGN 14.84

-78.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$42.05 BGN 70.0

-55.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.59 BGN 14.29

-8.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.39 BGN 3.98

-18.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-43.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-61.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.97 BGN 4.93

-28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.01 BGN 5.00

23.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.61 BGN 2.67

6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.81 BGN 1.34

101.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.20 BGN 3.66

-48.18%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.80 BGN 4.66

-31.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.67 BGN 14.43

86.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.75 BGN 9.57

-45.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.04 BGN 15.04

20.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.57 BGN 2.61

75.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.76 BGN 2.94

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.67 BGN 2.77

-2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.44 BGN 4.05

-34.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.99 BGN 1.65

41.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.11 BGN 1.84

5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.61 BGN 1.01

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.61 BGN 6.00

29.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$5.92 BGN 9.85

215.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.74 BGN 1.23

143.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.08 BGN 1.80

199.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.92 BGN 1.52

-2.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$26.16 BGN 43.52

-26.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.15 BGN 1.91

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.48 BGN 0.80

168.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.46 BGN 17.40

-25.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.54 BGN 2.55

-17.53%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.5K BGN 54.1K

-34.52%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$20.7K BGN 34.4K

7.46%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$57.8 BGN 96.2

19.46%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.81 BGN 14.66

59.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.90 BGN 21.46

39.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$17.92 BGN 29.81

129.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$23.91 BGN 39.78

-70.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.59 BGN 7.63

28.98%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$422 BGN 702

-29.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$5,531 BGN 9,202

170.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$61.6 BGN 102

-11.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$35.83 BGN 59.6

-25.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$94.8 BGN 158

-10.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$105 BGN 175

-32.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$150 BGN 249

185.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$230 BGN 382

3.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$386 BGN 643

107.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$353 BGN 588

45.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,451 BGN 2,414

36.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,167 BGN 1,941

26.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,296 BGN 2,156

-52.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

11.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Targovishte: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $150 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 110% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Targovishte. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $197 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 1% more than Targovishte, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,284 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $422 in Targovishte. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $856 in Targovishte, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Targovishte costs $856 versus $866 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.