Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haskovo

For one person, living is cheaper in Haskovo: $858 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Haskovo, Bulgaria
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Haskovo
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$858
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Haskovo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Haskovo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $858 in Haskovo.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Haskovo $858

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $1,400 in Haskovo.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Haskovo $1,400

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $1,942 in Haskovo.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Haskovo $1,942

Living in Phuket is roughly 49% more expensive than in Haskovo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Haskovo 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$9.53 BGN 16.67
-53.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$45.57 BGN 79.7
-28.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.80 BGN 17.15
-10.10%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$2.02 BGN 3.54
40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$1.23 BGN 2.15
-29.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$1.03 BGN 1.80
-52.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$1.27 BGN 2.23
101.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$4.45 BGN 7.79
-17.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.58 BGN 2.77
5.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$0.69 BGN 1.20
111.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.65 BGN 2.88
-9.09%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.21 BGN 5.62
-34.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$11.80 BGN 20.65
61.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$7.37 BGN 12.89
-55.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$8.27 BGN 14.48
31.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$1.55 BGN 2.71
89.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.89 BGN 3.30
-10.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.48 BGN 2.59
52.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$1.85 BGN 3.24
12.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.77 BGN 1.34
96.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.90 BGN 1.58
53.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$0.79 BGN 1.39
35.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.69 BGN 1.20
-24.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.14 BGN 7.25
1.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.76 BGN 13.57
142.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$0.78 BGN 1.37
133.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$1.69 BGN 2.96
68.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$0.71 BGN 1.24
104.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$23.32 BGN 40.82
142.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.17 BGN 2.04
158.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$0.72 BGN 1.25
41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$13.30 BGN 23.27
-72.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$1.61 BGN 2.82
-8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$30.4K BGN 53.2K
-11.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$23.1K BGN 40.4K
15.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$92.6 BGN 162
4.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$13.08 BGN 22.89
-13.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$9.46 BGN 16.55
78.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$54.1 BGN 94.7
24.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$28.93 BGN 50.6
-62.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$8.12 BGN 14.22
-7.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$798 BGN 1,396
-40.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$2,289 BGN 4,006
391.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$46.12 BGN 80.7
35.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$40.43 BGN 70.8
-29.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$77.0 BGN 135
22.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$83.2 BGN 146
3.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$230 BGN 403
211.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$164 BGN 287
198.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$369 BGN 645
422.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$299 BGN 523
378.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,200 BGN 2,099
248.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$966 BGN 1,691
215.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haskovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$1,098 BGN 1,921
-54.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.89
92.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Haskovo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Haskovo
$164 66.6% $327
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Haskovo
$212 20.5% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Haskovo
$115 7.5% $9.3
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Haskovo
$111 8.9% $11
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Haskovo
$154 26.7% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Haskovo
$70 14.5% $12
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Haskovo
$31 56.2% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $230 in Haskovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haskovo pays about 2.2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $46 in Haskovo. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $212, with Haskovo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇬 Haskovo
🕒 Local time
13:09 1:09 PM
08:09 8:09 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
76,587
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Haskovo 8,010 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Haskovo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Haskovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Haskovo?
Haskovo wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Haskovo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Haskovo?
On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Haskovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $230 in Haskovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Haskovo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Haskovo?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $46 in Haskovo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in Haskovo?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Haskovo is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Haskovo?
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.
How safe is Phuket compared to Haskovo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Haskovo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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