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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,486 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,323 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,161 in Varna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Varna is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿68.8

$14.23 BGN 23.67

-85.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿651

$59.9 BGN 99.6

-66.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$10.72 BGN 17.83

-45.99%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.97 BGN 4.94

-38.38%

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

$0.78 ฿25.43

$1.96 BGN 3.27

-60.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

$1.67 BGN 2.79

-81.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.7

$2.89 BGN 4.80

-19.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿121

$3.70 BGN 6.16

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.6

$2.01 BGN 3.34

1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.4

$1.28 BGN 2.14

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.43

$2.70 BGN 4.49

-47.41%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.4

$3.72 BGN 6.18

-41.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿522

$11.67 BGN 19.42

36.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$9.35 BGN 15.56

-67.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$14.86 BGN 24.72

-33.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.2

$2.07 BGN 3.45

27.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.94

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-51.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$2.21 BGN 3.68

-26.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$3.19 BGN 5.31

-52.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.84

$1.30 BGN 2.16

-4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.11

$1.08 BGN 1.80

4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.21

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-29.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.37

$0.86 BGN 1.43

-41.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿140

$4.24 BGN 7.06

0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿590

$8.94 BGN 14.87

101.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.28 BGN 2.12

32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.0

$1.95 BGN 3.24

48.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.91

$1.04 BGN 1.72

-9.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,814

$29.45 BGN 48.99

87.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.48

$1.58 BGN 2.62

-22.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$0.93 BGN 1.54

-43.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.8

$12.45 BGN 20.71

-80.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.22

$1.75 BGN 2.90

-17.71%

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

$21.2K ฿695.3K

$31.6K BGN 52.6K

-32.94%

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

$27.3K ฿895.9K

$26.2K BGN 43.7K

4.03%

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

$64.9 ฿2,130

$179 BGN 297

-63.68%

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

$13.35 ฿438

$21.82 BGN 36.30

-38.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿684

$17.25 BGN 28.70

20.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,326

$53.8 BGN 89.5

-24.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$20.59 BGN 34.25

-80.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿220

$9.10 BGN 15.14

-26.26%

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

$787 ฿25.8K

$536 BGN 892

46.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.2K

$6,573 BGN 10.9K

130.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,845

$67.2 BGN 112

-16.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿819

$34.37 BGN 57.2

-27.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,042

$104 BGN 173

-11.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,465

$106 BGN 176

-29.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$636 BGN 1,059

-23.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,425

$489 BGN 813

-41.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.8K

$1,359 BGN 2,261

-33.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$927 BGN 1,542

-42.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.0K

$3,327 BGN 5,534

-40.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.6K

$2,199 BGN 3,659

-34.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$1,297 BGN 2,158

-53.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.9

92.07%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Varna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $636 in Varna. 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 Varna, 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 $60.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $283 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varna costs about 56% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,229 in Varna. 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $536 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Varna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Varna at $1,486. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,486 in Varna. 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, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.