Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Silistra and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Silistra: $858 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Silistra
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$858
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Silistra and in Chiang Mai

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

A single person spends $858 per month in Silistra vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Silistra $858
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Silistra vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Silistra $1,223
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,589 per month in Silistra vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Silistra $1,589
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Silistra is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Silistra and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Silistra 37% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 BGN 17.62
$2.29 ฿76.5
342.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96 BGN 43.43
$19.64 ฿656
27.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 BGN 15.22
$5.61 ฿188
55.97%
Cappuccino
$1.66 BGN 2.89
$1.66 ฿55.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 BGN 1.93
$0.70 ฿23.40
58.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 BGN 1.38
$0.31 ฿10.24
154.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 BGN 3.19
$2.41 ฿80.4
-24.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 BGN 3.48
$3.71 ฿124
-46.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 BGN 2.98
$1.95 ฿65.3
-12.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 BGN 1.42
$1.41 ฿47.03
-42.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 BGN 2.59
$1.31 ฿43.62
13.74%
Eggs
$2.35 BGN 4.10
$2.18 ฿72.9
7.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.41 BGN 16.37
$16.65 ฿556
-43.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 BGN 11.07
$2.76 ฿92.2
130.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.31 BGN 14.46
$9.11 ฿304
-8.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BGN 2.17
$2.39 ฿80.0
-47.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 BGN 2.97
$1.03 ฿34.26
66.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 BGN 2.92
$1.63 ฿54.4
3.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 BGN 3.42
$1.50 ฿50.0
31.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 BGN 1.66
$1.29 ฿43.13
-25.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 BGN 1.23
$1.11 ฿37.03
-36.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 BGN 0.97
$0.72 ฿24.08
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 BGN 1.17
$0.53 ฿17.59
26.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64 BGN 6.33
$4.31 ฿144
-15.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 BGN 8.98
$17.95 ฿600
-71.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 BGN 1.87
$1.58 ฿52.9
-31.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 BGN 2.94
$2.84 ฿95.0
-40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 BGN 1.44
$0.86 ฿28.86
-3.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.87 BGN 41.54
$53.3 ฿1,780
-55.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BGN 2.03
$1.21 ฿40.29
-4.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 BGN 1.13
$0.57 ฿18.99
14.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.61 BGN 9.76
$2.35 ฿78.6
138.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 BGN 2.47
$1.44 ฿47.96
-1.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K BGN 52.6K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
45.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K BGN 37.9K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-18.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.5 BGN 161
$62.3 ฿2,083
48.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.56 BGN 25.33
$12.11 ฿405
20.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.13 BGN 21.10
$19.94 ฿666
-39.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.10 BGN 54.1
$37.07 ฿1,239
-16.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.20 BGN 29.93
$3.78 ฿126
355.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 BGN 11.58
$6.50 ฿217
2.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$232 BGN 404
$793 ฿26.5K
-70.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,274 BGN 3,958
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-84.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.97 BGN 53.9
$53.7 ฿1,796
-42.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.44 BGN 33.83
$24.62 ฿823
-21.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.3 BGN 110
$90.9 ฿3,036
-30.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.0 BGN 90.5
$71.1 ฿2,378
-26.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$332 BGN 578
$455 ฿15.2K
-27.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 BGN 431
$298 ฿9,954
-16.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 BGN 580
$908 ฿30.4K
-63.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 BGN 423
$554 ฿18.5K
-56.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,304 BGN 2,268
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-32.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,082 BGN 1,883
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-25.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 BGN 1,252
$591 ฿19.7K
21.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
5.57
-46.32%

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

Last update for Silistra: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Silistra
$248
Chiang Mai
$298 20.3% $50
Groceries & Markets
Silistra
$192
Chiang Mai
$235 22.5% $43
Eating Out
Silistra
$148
Chiang Mai
$79 46.9% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
$119
Chiang Mai
$94 20.8% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
$75
Chiang Mai
$108 45% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
$44
Chiang Mai
$50 12.7% $5.7
Getting Around
Silistra
$32
Chiang Mai
$61 92.3% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $332 in Silistra versus $455 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Silistra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Silistra versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Silistra vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Silistra wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Silistra
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
13:51 1:51 PM
17:51 5:51 PM
4 h ahead of Silistra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,923
127,240
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Silistra Chiang Mai 7,120 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Silistra
  • Chiang Mai

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
Silistra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Silistra or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Silistra, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Silistra and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,287 per month in Silistra and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Silistra or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Silistra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Silistra and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Silistra and $793 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Silistra or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Silistra or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Silistra, where all-in costs run around $858, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Silistra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Silistra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Silistra costs $858 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Silistra compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Silistra or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Silistra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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