😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,444 in Blackfoot, ID versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,571 in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,697 in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Blackfoot, ID is roughly 182% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Blackfoot, ID is 82% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.37$18.37
$1.94฿63.8
846.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2$81.2
$18.64฿611
335.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04$11.04
$7.82฿256
41.18%
Cappuccino
$5.09$5.09
$1.95฿64.1
161.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$0.85฿27.90
168.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$0.35฿11.64
408.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.17$6.17
$2.13฿69.9
189.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43$7.43
$3.73฿122
99.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.71฿56.2
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55$1.55
$1.63฿53.4
-4.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09$2.09
$1.14฿37.32
83.33%
Eggs
$2.84$2.84
$1.93฿63.4
47.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26$8.26
$16.21฿532
-49.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.85$5.85
$3.12฿102
87.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.53$16.53
$10.90฿357
51.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$2.75฿90.4
2.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26$1.26
$1.21฿39.70
4.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.62฿53.2
69.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$1.59฿52.1
74.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05$1.05
$1.40฿45.91
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.17฿38.34
44.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76$1.76
$0.66฿21.70
166.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15$1.15
$0.53฿17.30
116.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94$7.94
$4.69฿154
69.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.18$10.18
$18.66฿612
-45.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$1.80฿59.0
-17.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$3.23฿106
-46.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.45$2.45
$0.90฿29.39
172.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.43$2.43
$1.41฿46.13
72.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45$1.45
$1.29฿42.31
12.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.33$25.33
$7.84฿257
223.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.27฿41.77
-39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$21.3K฿698.1K
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$22.2K฿728.8K
16.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175$175
$69.1฿2,266
153.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.4$66.4
$14.08฿462
371.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.7$81.7
$18.00฿591
354.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.21$43.21
$41.06฿1,347
5.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.22$14.22
$5.92฿194
140.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,002$1,002
$299฿9,811
234.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K$18.7K
$15.0K฿490.6K
24.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.6$65.6
$54.7฿1,795
19.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57$44.57
$26.77฿878
66.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105$105
$85.0฿2,788
23.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$70.6฿2,316
60.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,618$1,618
$428฿14.0K
277.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,358$1,358
$237฿7,787
472.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,675$2,675
$801฿26.3K
233.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,238$2,238
$515฿16.9K
334.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995$1,995
$1,975฿64.8K
1.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,989$1,989
$1,475฿48.4K
34.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
5
29.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Blackfoot, ID: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,618 in Blackfoot, ID and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Blackfoot, ID vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $246 per month, with Chiang Mai 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
Blackfoot, ID vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Blackfoot, ID?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 182% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,667 in Blackfoot, ID and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Blackfoot, ID and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,618 in Blackfoot, ID versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Blackfoot, ID and Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Blackfoot, ID. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Blackfoot, ID vs Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,444 per month in Blackfoot, ID versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 182% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Blackfoot, ID or Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,444 in Blackfoot, ID, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Blackfoot, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Blackfoot, ID or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Blackfoot, ID, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Blackfoot, ID or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Blackfoot, ID and Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 182% less than in Blackfoot, ID. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Blackfoot, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared