😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $922 in Silistra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,357 in Silistra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,792 in Silistra.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 37% more expensive than Silistra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Silistra31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$10.74BGN 17.86
-56.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$24.98BGN 41.56
81.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$8.98BGN 14.94
-6.12%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.81BGN 3.02
61.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$1.20BGN 2.00
-42.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.67BGN 1.11
-44.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.87BGN 3.12
28.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.57BGN 4.28
44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.69BGN 2.80
31.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.90BGN 1.51
103.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.95BGN 3.24
11.28%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$3.29BGN 5.47
-32.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$9.20BGN 15.31
114.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$7.75BGN 12.89
-53.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$11.70BGN 19.46
15.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.93BGN 3.20
69.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.03BGN 3.39
-20.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.08BGN 3.46
15.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.48BGN 4.13
-16.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.43BGN 2.38
6.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.36BGN 2.26
8.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.05BGN 1.75
-5.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.76BGN 1.27
-32.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.70BGN 6.15
19.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.39BGN 8.96
259.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.96BGN 1.60
85.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.75BGN 2.92
54.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.57BGN 0.95
140.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$26.46BGN 44.02
-56.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.20BGN 1.99
151.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.68BGN 1.13
45.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$5.86BGN 9.74
140.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.53BGN 2.55
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$31.9KBGN 53.1K
-11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$25.8KBGN 43.0K
27.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$93.7BGN 156
29.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$16.47BGN 27.41
-17.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$13.85BGN 23.04
32.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$31.88BGN 53.0
88.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$14.76BGN 24.56
16.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$7.25BGN 12.06
19.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$234BGN 390
196.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$4,177BGN 6,949
275.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$58.6BGN 97.5
1.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$29.77BGN 49.53
16.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$70.9BGN 118
61.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$70.4BGN 117
18.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$233BGN 388
163.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$206BGN 342
112.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$340BGN 566
515.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$253BGN 420
497.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,340BGN 2,229
179.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,078BGN 1,793
142.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Silistra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$752BGN 1,252
-32.46%
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 Silistra: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $233 in Silistra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Silistra pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Silistra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $230 per month, with Silistra 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 Silistra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silistra cheaper than Phuket?
Silistra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Silistra?
On paper, Silistra earns 48% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Silistra?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $233 in Silistra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $234 in Silistra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Silistra?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Silistra?
At $922 in Silistra versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Silistra but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Silistra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Silistra more family-friendly?
For families, Silistra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Silistra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Silistra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Silistra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.