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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Yambol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,313 in Yambol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,769 in Yambol, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Yambol, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.76 BGN 14.63

-77.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$29.97 BGN 50.1

-37.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.88 BGN 11.49

15.12%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.50 BGN 2.51

27.33%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.44 BGN 2.40

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.57 BGN 0.96

-38.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.72 BGN 2.87

28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.41 BGN 4.02

57.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.73 BGN 2.90

-5.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.01 BGN 1.70

60.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.22 BGN 3.70

-46.85%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.05 BGN 5.10

-34.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.91 BGN 14.89

78.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.64 BGN 12.76

-60.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$5.73 BGN 9.57

87.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.49 BGN 2.50

75.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.71 BGN 2.85

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.64 BGN 2.75

3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.64 BGN 2.73

-3.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.04 BGN 1.73

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.86 BGN 1.43

36.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-36.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.77 BGN 1.29

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.47 BGN 5.79

30.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.66 BGN 7.78

290.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.05 BGN 1.75

74.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.80 BGN 3.00

79.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.90 BGN 1.51

-1.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$29.20 BGN 48.76

-33.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.16 BGN 1.94

16.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.73 BGN 1.22

84.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$10.71 BGN 17.88

-22.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.56 BGN 2.61

-18.59%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.8K BGN 53.1K

-33.43%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.3K BGN 47.3K

-20.59%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$96.5 BGN 161

-27.29%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$16.54 BGN 27.62

-16.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.39 BGN 25.71

14.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$27.94 BGN 46.66

48.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.90 BGN 24.88

-55.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$9.03 BGN 15.09

-35.99%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$431 BGN 720

-28.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,040 BGN 11.8K

110.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$61.5 BGN 103

-11.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$22.38 BGN 37.38

16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$99.9 BGN 167

-15.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$61.2 BGN 102

13.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$270 BGN 451

56.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$191 BGN 320

24.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$384 BGN 641

114.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$311 BGN 520

65.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,383 BGN 2,310

48.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,211 BGN 2,022

25.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,287 BGN 2,150

-50.66%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Yambol: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $270 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 103% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Yambol. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $200 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 1% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,287 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $431 in Yambol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Yambol – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $858 in Yambol, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $858 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.