🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Targovishte versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Targovishte versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,845 in Targovishte versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Targovishte costs roughly 32% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Targovishte36% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.00BGN 14.98
$4.55฿153
97.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.05BGN 70.0
$46.18฿1,554
-8.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.60BGN 14.30
$8.84฿298
-2.71%
Cappuccino
$2.47BGN 4.10
$3.06฿103
-19.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44BGN 2.39
$0.73฿24.42
97.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85BGN 1.41
$0.40฿13.40
112.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96BGN 4.93
$2.43฿81.8
21.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97BGN 4.94
$3.78฿127
-21.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61BGN 2.68
$2.26฿76.0
-28.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76BGN 1.26
$1.81฿60.9
-58.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13BGN 3.55
$2.25฿75.8
-5.33%
Eggs
$2.80BGN 4.66
$2.25฿75.6
24.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66BGN 14.41
$19.51฿656
-55.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80BGN 9.64
$3.65฿123
58.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89BGN 14.80
$13.05฿439
-31.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56BGN 2.59
$3.23฿109
-51.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70BGN 2.82
$1.62฿54.4
4.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64BGN 2.73
$2.38฿80.2
-31.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46BGN 4.10
$2.03฿68.2
21.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03BGN 1.71
$1.53฿51.6
-32.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14BGN 1.90
$1.50฿50.5
-24.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92BGN 1.53
$0.98฿32.93
-6.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62BGN 1.03
$0.52฿17.40
19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52BGN 5.85
$4.44฿149
-20.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95BGN 9.90
$18.32฿616
-67.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68BGN 1.13
$1.86฿62.7
-63.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08BGN 1.79
$2.68฿90.2
-59.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84BGN 1.39
$1.41฿47.49
-40.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.08BGN 43.38
$11.70฿394
122.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20BGN 1.99
$3.11฿105
-61.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48BGN 0.81
$1.04฿35.08
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.74BGN 17.87
$14.11฿475
-23.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59BGN 2.64
$1.31฿44.13
21.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KBGN 52.8K
$27.8K฿936.0K
14.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KBGN 34.4K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-37.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.5BGN 97.2
$122฿4,120
-52.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97BGN 14.92
$13.59฿457
-34.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.08BGN 21.77
$18.70฿629
-30.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.93BGN 29.83
$60.5฿2,035
-70.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56BGN 39.20
$16.98฿572
38.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75BGN 7.90
$9.07฿305
-47.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$417BGN 693
$706฿23.8K
-41.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,466BGN 9,093
$15.8K฿531.8K
-65.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2BGN 102
$58.6฿1,970
4.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.99BGN 58.2
$35.36฿1,190
-1.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6BGN 156
$115฿3,885
-18.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107BGN 178
$83.7฿2,818
27.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$147BGN 245
$626฿21.1K
-76.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228BGN 380
$445฿15.0K
-48.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381BGN 634
$2,040฿68.7K
-81.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359BGN 597
$1,492฿50.2K
-75.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,369BGN 2,278
$3,483฿117.2K
-60.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,166BGN 1,940
$2,577฿86.7K
-54.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targovishte
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,301BGN 2,164
$500฿16.8K
160.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
5.33
-15.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Targovishte: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in Targovishte and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Targovishte pays 160% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Targovishte vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $289 per month, with Targovishte 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
Targovishte vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Targovishte?
Targovishte is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Targovishte or Phuket?
Average pay runs 160% higher in Targovishte, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Targovishte and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $147 in Targovishte versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $417 in Targovishte versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Targovishte and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Targovishte or in Phuket?
At $854 in Targovishte versus $1,250 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 Targovishte or Phuket 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, Targovishte or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Targovishte and Phuket 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 46% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Targovishte vs other spots: cost of living compared