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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,206 in Burgas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,826 in Burgas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,446 in Burgas, rent included.

Phuket costs about 2% more than Burgas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Burgas 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿146
$14.55 BGN 24.20
-69.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,071
$47.64 BGN 79.3
-32.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$10.46 BGN 17.40
-14.63%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.1
$3.46 BGN 5.75
-16.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.22
$1.11 BGN 1.85
-20.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.97
$0.77 BGN 1.28
-37.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.1
$2.12 BGN 3.53
10.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$3.04 BGN 5.05
22.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿61.9
$1.74 BGN 2.90
7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.68
$0.94 BGN 1.57
56.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.5
$2.16 BGN 3.59
-28.24%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.8
$3.50 BGN 5.82
-40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿650
$9.17 BGN 15.25
113.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$8.22 BGN 13.67
-58.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$11.41 BGN 18.98
-0.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.1
$2.24 BGN 3.73
33.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿55.9
$2.10 BGN 3.49
-20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.3
$2.03 BGN 3.37
8.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.8
$2.59 BGN 4.30
-16.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.6
$1.35 BGN 2.25
12.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.43
$1.40 BGN 2.32
-4.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.47
$0.94 BGN 1.57
20.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.14
$0.76 BGN 1.27
-27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$3.56 BGN 5.93
19.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿634
$7.11 BGN 11.83
168.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.1
$1.01 BGN 1.68
76.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.4
$1.91 BGN 3.17
45.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.0
$0.94 BGN 1.56
137.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿755
$34.76 BGN 57.8
-34.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.82 BGN 3.02
66.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿33.96
$0.79 BGN 1.31
29.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$12.49 BGN 20.78
-68.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.50
$1.69 BGN 2.82
-11.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿882.5K
$30.8K BGN 51.2K
-13.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿897.4K
$23.1K BGN 38.4K
17.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,402
$109 BGN 181
-5.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿376
$15.21 BGN 25.30
-25.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$12.26 BGN 20.40
41.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,729
$39.75 BGN 66.1
31.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
$14.71 BGN 24.47
-24.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿255
$8.98 BGN 14.93
-14.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$232 BGN 386
141.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.0K
$15.4K BGN 25.6K
-25.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,093
$60.4 BGN 100
4.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿980
$29.78 BGN 49.54
-0.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,254
$73.5 BGN 122
33.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,938
$77.4 BGN 129
14.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
$534 BGN 888
38.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
$435 BGN 724
10.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿69.9K
$819 BGN 1,363
157.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.7K
$653 BGN 1,087
87.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.1K
$2,612 BGN 4,346
38.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.4K
$1,881 BGN 3,129
38.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Burgas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$1,059 BGN 1,762
-53.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.25
71.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Burgas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $534 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 115% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $48.00 in Burgas. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $240 in Burgas – so Burgas 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
Phuket vs Burgas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Burgas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,206 in Burgas – roughly 2% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Burgas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,809 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 in Burgas?
Public transport costs about 53% 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 $561 per month in Phuket and $232 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 $1,206, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $1,206 in Burgas to $1,232 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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