Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Veliko Tarnovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Veliko Tarnovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $971 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,528 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,085 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Veliko Tarnovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Veliko Tarnovo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Veliko Tarnovo 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$10.37 BGN 17.25

-81.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$40.59 BGN 67.5

-54.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.09 BGN 15.11

-17.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.87 BGN 3.10

8.02%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.38 BGN 2.29

-38.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.66 BGN 1.10

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.93 BGN 3.22

10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.99 BGN 4.97

20.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.91 BGN 1.51

72.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.97 BGN 3.28

-39.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.28 BGN 5.46

-40.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.50 BGN 15.80

70.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.88 BGN 13.10

-62.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.50 BGN 19.14

-4.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.65 BGN 2.75

64.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.06 BGN 3.42

-43.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-15.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.49 BGN 4.14

-35.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.20 BGN 2.00

15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.35 BGN 2.25

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.01 BGN 1.67

-33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.80 BGN 1.32

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.58 BGN 5.95

29.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.64 BGN 11.04

165.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.95 BGN 1.58

95.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.61 BGN 2.68

104.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.86 BGN 1.43

2.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$34.46 BGN 57.3

-43.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.21 BGN 2.01

12.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.62 BGN 1.02

116.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$11.97 BGN 19.91

-31.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-21.79%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

-33.31%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$26.1K BGN 43.4K

-13.64%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$93.9 BGN 156

-24.75%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$16.63 BGN 27.67

-15.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$13.38 BGN 22.26

30.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$35.95 BGN 59.8

17.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.78 BGN 36.24

-68.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.00 BGN 11.65

-15.43%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$233 BGN 388

32.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,168 BGN 6,934

256.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$43.83 BGN 72.9

27.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$29.93 BGN 49.78

-12.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$82.4 BGN 137

0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$71.5 BGN 119

-1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$364 BGN 606

18.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$254 BGN 422

-5.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$577 BGN 960

42.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$435 BGN 724

17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,514 BGN 4,182

-23.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,388 BGN 2,309

5.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$923 BGN 1,536

-37.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

9.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $364 in Veliko Tarnovo. 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 59% higher in Veliko Tarnovo, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Veliko Tarnovo – so Veliko Tarnovo 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 Veliko Tarnovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Veliko Tarnovo costs about 13% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,457 in Veliko Tarnovo. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $233 in Veliko Tarnovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Veliko Tarnovo – 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 $861, than in Veliko Tarnovo at $971. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Veliko Tarnovo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $971 in Veliko Tarnovo. 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, Veliko Tarnovo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.