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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $986 in Yambol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,509 in Yambol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,031 in Yambol, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Yambol, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Yambol are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Yambol 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.39 BGN 17.29

-79.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$37.23 BGN 61.9

-47.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.28 BGN 17.11

-44.84%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.60 BGN 2.67

13.12%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.63 BGN 2.71

-52.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.76 BGN 1.27

-53.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.79 BGN 2.99

23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.75 BGN 2.92

116.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.00 BGN 3.33

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.29 BGN 2.14

17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-42.62%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.36 BGN 5.59

-32.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.29 BGN 15.46

74.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$7.60 BGN 12.64

-61.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.02 BGN 10.01

56.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.73 BGN 2.88

54.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.99 BGN 3.31

-45.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.76 BGN 2.94

-7.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.57 BGN 2.61

-7.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.27 BGN 2.12

0.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.87 BGN 1.45

21.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.77 BGN 1.28

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.03 BGN 6.70

4.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.67 BGN 7.77

291.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.26 BGN 2.10

29.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.84 BGN 3.07

57.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.89 BGN 1.48

-1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$29.61 BGN 49.27

81.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.62 BGN 2.70

-27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.85 BGN 1.42

-31.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$12.25 BGN 20.39

-80.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.65 BGN 2.75

-12.12%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$30.8K BGN 51.2K

-31.70%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$26.5K BGN 44.0K

-0.20%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$120 BGN 199

-46.87%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$16.58 BGN 27.58

-22.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$17.52 BGN 29.14

17.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$27.99 BGN 46.57

39.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$7.06 BGN 11.74

-6.80%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$531 BGN 883

47.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,599 BGN 11.0K

122.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$53.7 BGN 89.4

2.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$22.53 BGN 37.48

9.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$87.9 BGN 146

7.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$61.9 BGN 103

19.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$373 BGN 621

31.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$283 BGN 470

2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$553 BGN 919

61.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$490 BGN 815

6.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,362 BGN 2,266

44.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,186 BGN 1,973

21.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,264 BGN 2,104

-52.42%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Yambol: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $373 in Yambol. 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 Yambol, 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 $37.00 in Yambol. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $214 in Yambol – so Yambol 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 Yambol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yambol costs about 6% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,480 in Yambol. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $531 in Yambol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Yambol – 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 $932, than in Yambol at $986. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yambol it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $986 in Yambol. 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, Yambol makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.