Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,216 per month in Varna vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Varna vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,491 per month in Varna vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Varna costs about 44% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Varna 9% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.82 BGN 19.74

$1.95 ฿62.8

506.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.21 BGN 78.8

$18.43 ฿594

156.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BGN 14.69

$7.50 ฿241

17.33%

Cappuccino

$2.61 BGN 4.35

$1.93 ฿62.3

35.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BGN 2.88

$0.78 ฿25.08

121.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$0.32 ฿10.42

296.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 BGN 5.04

$2.15 ฿69.2

40.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 BGN 5.06

$3.71 ฿120

-18.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.99

$1.71 ฿55.2

4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$1.56 ฿50.3

-33.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 BGN 4.21

$1.18 ฿38.06

113.56%

Eggs

$3.48 BGN 5.81

$1.98 ฿63.9

75.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.92 BGN 18.24

$16.04 ฿517

-31.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.28 BGN 13.82

$3.17 ฿102

161.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 BGN 20.27

$10.94 ฿353

10.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.68

$2.63 ฿84.7

-39.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.42

$1.17 ฿37.61

75.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 BGN 2.97

$1.65 ฿53.0

7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.58

$1.54 ฿49.51

77.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$1.38 ฿44.34

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.91

$1.17 ฿37.54

-2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.66 ฿21.25

56.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.18

$0.51 ฿16.55

37.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 BGN 6.45

$4.52 ฿146

-14.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 BGN 13.01

$18.32 ฿590

-57.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.80 ฿57.9

-35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 BGN 3.17

$3.18 ฿102

-40.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$0.90 ฿28.97

34.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.54 BGN 49.32

$19.00 ฿612

55.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 BGN 2.24

$1.41 ฿45.50

-4.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$1.31 ฿42.15

-45.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.18 BGN 20.34

$8.09 ฿261

50.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BGN 2.46

$1.28 ฿41.08

15.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.6K BGN 54.5K

$21.3K ฿686.1K

53.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.4K BGN 49.1K

$21.7K ฿699.3K

35.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 BGN 206

$69.2 ฿2,230

78.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.22 BGN 32.10

$13.97 ฿450

37.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.76 BGN 26.32

$17.95 ฿578

-12.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 BGN 69.1

$42.31 ฿1,363

-2.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.72 BGN 24.59

$6.66 ฿214

121.02%

Cinema Ticket

$8.81 BGN 14.71

$5.92 ฿191

48.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$401 BGN 669

$299 ฿9,640

33.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,517 BGN 9,214

$14.8K ฿478.4K

-62.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 BGN 103

$56.2 ฿1,810

9.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.03 BGN 56.8

$26.94 ฿868

26.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 BGN 152

$84.9 ฿2,735

6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$71.8 ฿2,314

42.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 BGN 866

$435 ฿14.0K

19.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 BGN 657

$240 ฿7,727

64.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 BGN 1,516

$798 ฿25.7K

13.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 BGN 1,075

$498 ฿16.1K

29.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,150 BGN 5,260

$1,995 ฿64.3K

57.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,061 BGN 3,442

$1,532 ฿49.4K

34.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,213 BGN 2,026

$628 ฿20.2K

93.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

-5.80%

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

Last update for Varna: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $518 in Varna versus $435 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 93% higher in Varna, 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 $47 in Varna versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Varna vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varna costs about 44% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,824 per month in Varna and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $401 per month in Varna and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Varna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Varna at $1,216. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,216 in Varna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.