😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $575 in Targovishte.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,168 in Targovishte.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,761 in Targovishte.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 114% more expensive than in Targovishte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Targovishte58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$7.19BGN 11.95
-38.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$41.09BGN 68.4
-21.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$6.92BGN 11.52
29.05%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$1.61BGN 2.67
80.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$1.09BGN 1.81
-19.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.64BGN 1.06
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$0.98BGN 1.63
139.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.22BGN 7.03
-11.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.54BGN 2.56
21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$0.75BGN 1.24
96.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$2.33BGN 3.88
-33.48%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.73BGN 4.55
-23.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$8.57BGN 14.25
128.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.63BGN 9.37
-39.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$8.83BGN 14.69
28.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$1.78BGN 2.96
67.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.85BGN 3.08
-9.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.80BGN 2.99
22.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.73BGN 4.54
-20.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$1.10BGN 1.84
38.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$1.13BGN 1.88
18.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$0.91BGN 1.51
24.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.62BGN 1.03
-11.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.52BGN 5.86
21.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$6.31BGN 10.49
202.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$0.72BGN 1.20
147.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$1.02BGN 1.71
172.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$0.46BGN 0.76
384.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.20BGN 1.99
152.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$0.55BGN 0.91
85.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$10.80BGN 17.97
-63.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.68BGN 2.80
-11.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$31.2KBGN 51.9K
-14.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$20.6KBGN 34.3K
31.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$58.9BGN 97.9
74.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$8.68BGN 14.43
30.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$12.93BGN 21.51
34.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$17.79BGN 29.60
192.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$23.81BGN 39.61
-53.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$5.93BGN 9.87
29.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$540BGN 898
3.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$5,532BGN 9,204
107.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$69.7BGN 116
-9.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$42.86BGN 71.3
-31.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$92.7BGN 154
5.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$107BGN 178
-17.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$149BGN 248
394.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$385BGN 640
447.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$349BGN 581
250.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$1,425BGN 2,371
153.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$1,161BGN 1,932
124.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Targovishte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$1,287BGN 2,141
-61.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
3.1
79.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Targovishte: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $149 in Targovishte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Targovishte pays 161% 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 $41.00 in Targovishte. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $199, with Targovishte cheaper for home cooking.
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 Targovishte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Targovishte cheaper than Phuket?
Targovishte is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Targovishte?
On paper, salaries run 161% lower in Targovishte. 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 Targovishte?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $149 in Targovishte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $540 in Targovishte. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Targovishte?
Dining out is cheaper in Targovishte – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Targovishte?
At $575 in Targovishte versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Targovishte but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Targovishte the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Targovishte more family-friendly?
For families, Targovishte 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 Targovishte?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Targovishte 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 Targovishte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.