Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Burgas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Burgas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,134 in Burgas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,714 in Burgas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,294 in Burgas, rent included.

Phuket costs about 12% more than Burgas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Burgas 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$11.93 BGN 19.85
-60.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$41.19 BGN 68.5
10.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.95 BGN 14.89
-5.81%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.55 BGN 4.25
14.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.31 BGN 2.18
-47.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.65 BGN 1.08
-43.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.00 BGN 3.32
20.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.98 BGN 4.96
24.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.66 BGN 2.76
34.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.93 BGN 1.55
96.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.95 BGN 3.24
11.28%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.36 BGN 5.59
-34.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.66 BGN 16.06
104.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$7.91 BGN 13.16
-54.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$11.53 BGN 19.18
17.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.96 BGN 3.27
67.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.07 BGN 3.44
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.01 BGN 3.34
19.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.57 BGN 4.27
-19.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.44 BGN 2.39
6.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.31 BGN 2.17
12.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.02 BGN 1.69
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.77 BGN 1.28
-33.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$3.52 BGN 5.85
25.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$6.68 BGN 11.12
190.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.02 BGN 1.70
74.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.73 BGN 2.88
56.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.90 BGN 1.50
52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$34.91 BGN 58.1
-67.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.21 BGN 2.01
149.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.67 BGN 1.11
47.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$13.22 BGN 21.99
6.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.54 BGN 2.57
-11.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$32.1K BGN 53.5K
-12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.0K BGN 43.2K
26.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$93.3 BGN 155
30.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$16.36 BGN 27.21
-17.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$14.05 BGN 23.37
30.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$30.89 BGN 51.4
94.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$15.05 BGN 25.03
13.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$8.65 BGN 14.39
0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$234 BGN 388
196.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$4,083 BGN 6,793
284.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$59.6 BGN 99.1
-0.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$42.36 BGN 70.5
-17.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$80.9 BGN 135
41.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$71.6 BGN 119
16.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$508 BGN 845
20.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$386 BGN 643
13.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$885 BGN 1,472
136.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$615 BGN 1,023
145.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$2,512 BGN 4,179
49.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,817 BGN 3,023
43.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$1,024 BGN 1,703
-50.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.57
16.63%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Burgas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $508 in Burgas. 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 101% higher in Burgas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $41.00 in Burgas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $236 – making Burgas 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
Phuket vs Burgas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Burgas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,134 in Burgas – roughly 12% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Burgas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,700 in Burgas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Burgas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Burgas?
Public transport costs about 206% less in Burgas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Burgas?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $234 in Burgas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgas, where all-in costs run around $1,134, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Burgas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Burgas?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,134 in Burgas to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Burgas safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Burgas?
If budget matters most, go with Burgas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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