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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.9

$11.58 BGN 19.26

-83.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿613

$46.66 BGN 77.6

-60.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿257

$8.68 BGN 14.43

-9.91%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.2

$2.58 BGN 4.30

-24.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.95

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-53.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.66

$1.28 BGN 2.13

-72.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿70.1

$2.88 BGN 4.79

-26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.02 BGN 5.03

23.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.3

$1.88 BGN 3.14

-9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$1.08 BGN 1.79

50.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.39

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-53.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.5

$3.30 BGN 5.48

-41.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿533

$11.00 BGN 18.30

47.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿103

$8.46 BGN 14.08

-63.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿358

$12.26 BGN 20.40

-11.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.6

$1.66 BGN 2.77

65.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.78

$2.13 BGN 3.54

-43.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.3

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-12.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.2

$2.79 BGN 4.64

-43.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.00

$1.19 BGN 1.98

17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.41

$1.14 BGN 1.90

2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.74

$1.03 BGN 1.71

-35.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.33

$0.70 BGN 1.16

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$3.76 BGN 6.26

24.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿613

$9.12 BGN 15.16

104.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.2

$1.16 BGN 1.92

55.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.92 BGN 3.19

68.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿632

$29.96 BGN 49.84

-35.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.21

$1.39 BGN 2.31

1.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.39

$0.71 BGN 1.17

81.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$12.51 BGN 20.80

-37.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.85

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-15.89%

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

$21.3K ฿699.4K

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

-32.83%

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

$22.2K ฿730.1K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

-22.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,270

$125 BGN 208

-44.64%

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

$14.08 ฿463

$19.16 BGN 31.87

-26.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿592

$15.85 BGN 26.37

13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,350

$40.38 BGN 67.2

1.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$14.52 BGN 24.15

-52.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$9.11 BGN 15.16

-35.02%

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

$299 ฿9,829

$400 BGN 666

-25.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿491.5K

$5,515 BGN 9,174

171.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,798

$60.2 BGN 100

-9.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿880

$33.44 BGN 55.6

-19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,793

$92.6 BGN 154

-8.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,320

$100 BGN 167

-29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.1K

$515 BGN 857

-16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,801

$391 BGN 650

-39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$907 BGN 1,508

-11.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$646 BGN 1,075

-20.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.9K

$3,420 BGN 5,690

-42.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.5K

$2,147 BGN 3,572

-31.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.3K

$1,196 BGN 1,989

-48.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

6.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $515 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 94% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $253 – 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 37% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,783 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $400 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 $866, than in Varna at $1,189. 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 $866 versus $1,189 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.