Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yambol Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yambol

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $837 in Yambol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,303 in Yambol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,770 in Yambol.

Living in Phuket is roughly 46% more expensive than Yambol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Yambol 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$8.78 BGN 14.61
-48.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$29.29 BGN 48.73
59.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$6.90 BGN 11.47
23.04%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$1.43 BGN 2.38
115.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$1.44 BGN 2.39
-52.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$0.61 BGN 1.01
-40.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
$1.72 BGN 2.86
41.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
$2.31 BGN 3.84
57.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$1.79 BGN 2.98
22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$1.01 BGN 1.69
79.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$2.19 BGN 3.64
1.83%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$3.09 BGN 5.13
-27.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$9.12 BGN 15.17
114.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$7.55 BGN 12.55
-50.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$5.73 BGN 9.54
135.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$1.50 BGN 2.50
124.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.75 BGN 2.91
-7.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$1.59 BGN 2.65
51.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$1.66 BGN 2.76
19.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$1.04 BGN 1.73
47.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$0.86 BGN 1.43
68.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$1.05 BGN 1.75
-3.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.72 BGN 1.19
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$3.57 BGN 5.95
19.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
$4.83 BGN 8.03
295.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
$1.08 BGN 1.80
70.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
$1.74 BGN 2.89
57.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.84 BGN 1.39
69.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$29.18 BGN 48.54
-59.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$1.15 BGN 1.92
160.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.72 BGN 1.19
45.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$10.57 BGN 17.58
31.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$1.60 BGN 2.66
-19.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$32.6K BGN 54.3K
-14.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$28.0K BGN 46.6K
19.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$97.4 BGN 162
25.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$16.51 BGN 27.47
-15.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$15.40 BGN 25.62
22.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$28.14 BGN 46.81
117.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$14.92 BGN 24.82
12.87%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$8.68 BGN 14.45
2.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$416 BGN 692
66.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$7,013 BGN 11.7K
130.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$61.5 BGN 102
-6.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$22.26 BGN 37.03
58.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$101 BGN 168
12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$61.4 BGN 102
35.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$261 BGN 434
132.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$192 BGN 320
132.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$387 BGN 643
424.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$311 BGN 517
380.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,356 BGN 2,255
164.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$1,185 BGN 1,971
118.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yambol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
$1,282 BGN 2,132
-60.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.49
18.71%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Yambol: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $261 in Yambol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yambol pays 154% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Yambol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $200 per month, with Yambol 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 Yambol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yambol cheaper than Phuket?
Yambol is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yambol?
On paper, Yambol earns 154% 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 Yambol?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $261 in Yambol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $416 in Yambol. 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 Yambol?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% 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 Yambol?
At $837 in Yambol versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yambol but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yambol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yambol more family-friendly?
For families, Yambol 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 Yambol?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yambol 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 Yambol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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