😐A single person spends $919 per month in Silistra vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Silistra vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Silistra vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Silistra costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Silistra and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Silistra31% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.72BGN 17.83
$1.96฿65.9
446.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59BGN 42.57
$18.35฿617
39.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00BGN 14.97
$7.48฿252
20.32%
Cappuccino
$1.72BGN 2.87
$2.02฿67.8
-14.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$0.85฿28.52
37.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65BGN 1.08
$0.36฿11.97
80.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94BGN 3.23
$2.14฿71.9
-9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72BGN 4.53
$3.59฿121
-24.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63BGN 2.71
$1.65฿55.5
-1.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95BGN 1.58
$1.57฿52.7
-39.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87BGN 3.12
$1.19฿40.05
57.14%
Eggs
$3.31BGN 5.50
$1.94฿65.1
70.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17BGN 15.26
$16.19฿545
-43.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.88BGN 13.11
$2.99฿101
163.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.53BGN 19.17
$10.94฿368
5.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.22
$2.71฿91.2
-28.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12BGN 3.52
$1.17฿39.27
81.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01BGN 3.34
$1.69฿56.8
18.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51BGN 4.18
$1.60฿54.0
56.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46BGN 2.42
$1.38฿46.56
5.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35BGN 2.25
$1.20฿40.47
12.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.74
$0.67฿22.51
56.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83BGN 1.38
$0.56฿18.74
48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63BGN 6.03
$4.64฿156
-21.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.19BGN 8.64
$17.62฿593
-70.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94BGN 1.56
$1.86฿62.6
-49.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73BGN 2.88
$3.30฿111
-47.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62BGN 1.03
$0.88฿29.70
-29.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.41BGN 43.94
$19.34฿651
36.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20BGN 1.99
$1.36฿45.92
-11.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.18
$1.34฿45.00
-47.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.05BGN 10.06
$8.21฿276
-26.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46BGN 2.43
$1.22฿41.20
19.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KBGN 54.0K
$21.4K฿718.5K
52.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KBGN 42.5K
$22.5K฿758.1K
13.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.8BGN 158
$70.7฿2,378
34.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.72BGN 27.82
$14.04฿472
19.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.08BGN 23.42
$17.49฿589
-19.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.80BGN 52.9
$42.15฿1,418
-24.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54BGN 24.19
$6.88฿231
111.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12BGN 11.84
$5.92฿199
20.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233BGN 388
$309฿10.4K
-24.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,159BGN 6,919
$14.9K฿500.7K
-72.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6BGN 99.1
$55.8฿1,876
6.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.12BGN 48.45
$26.11฿879
11.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5BGN 119
$83.0฿2,793
-13.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0BGN 120
$70.5฿2,371
2.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235BGN 391
$432฿14.5K
-45.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210BGN 349
$239฿8,040
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339BGN 564
$822฿27.7K
-58.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258BGN 430
$512฿17.2K
-49.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,389BGN 2,311
$1,915฿64.4K
-27.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$972BGN 1,617
$1,467฿49.4K
-33.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$735BGN 1,223
$579฿19.5K
26.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.57
5
-8.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Silistra: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Silistra versus $432 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 27% higher in Silistra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Silistra versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Silistra vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Silistra wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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?
Silistra costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,379 per month in Silistra and $1,292 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 Chiang Mai, 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 $233 per month in Silistra and $309 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Silistra – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Silistra or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $919 in Silistra and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Silistra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $919 in Silistra. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Silistra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.