Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dobrich Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dobrich

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $608 in Dobrich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $993 in Dobrich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,379 in Dobrich.

Living in Phuket is roughly 103% more expensive than in Dobrich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Dobrich 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$6.92 BGN 11.50

-36.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$29.88 BGN 49.71

7.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$10.67 BGN 17.75

-16.31%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$1.75 BGN 2.91

65.71%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.93 BGN 1.56

-5.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.55 BGN 0.91

-12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$2.08 BGN 3.46

12.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.98 BGN 4.96

24.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.67 BGN 2.78

11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$0.84 BGN 1.41

75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$2.16 BGN 3.60

-28.24%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$3.24 BGN 5.39

-35.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$6.47 BGN 10.77

202.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$8.27 BGN 13.77

-58.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$11.29 BGN 18.79

0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$2.18 BGN 3.63

36.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$2.11 BGN 3.51

-20.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.95 BGN 3.25

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$2.55 BGN 4.25

-15.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.19 BGN 1.99

27.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$1.45 BGN 2.42

-7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$1.02 BGN 1.70

10.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.57 BGN 0.96

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.45 BGN 5.74

23.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$6.93 BGN 11.54

175.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.02 BGN 1.71

74.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$1.92 BGN 3.20

44.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$0.97 BGN 1.61

129.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

$22.76 BGN 37.86

-0.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.81 BGN 3.02

67.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$0.70 BGN 1.16

45.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$12.39 BGN 20.61

-68.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$1.52 BGN 2.52

-1.97%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$30.7K BGN 51.0K

-13.32%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$23.5K BGN 39.1K

15.05%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$52.1 BGN 86.6

96.79%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$14.94 BGN 24.86

-24.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$12.08 BGN 20.10

44.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$25.55 BGN 42.51

103.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$4.64 BGN 7.71

65.73%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$237 BGN 394

136.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$15.1K BGN 25.1K

-23.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$60.0 BGN 99.8

5.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$30.46 BGN 50.7

-3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$74.2 BGN 123

32.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$52.7 BGN 87.6

68.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$1,026 BGN 1,707

-51.90%

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 Dobrich: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dobrich pays 108% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Dobrich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $226 per month, with Dobrich cheaper across the board.

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 Dobrich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Dobrich differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $608 including rent). Dobrich is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 108% lower in Dobrich. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $608 in Dobrich – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dobrich runs roughly 0% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $608 in Dobrich versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dobrich but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dobrich the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Dobrich are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dobrich gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.