😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,427 in Blackfoot, ID versus $950 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,551 in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,676 in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Blackfoot, ID is roughly 155% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Blackfoot, ID is 76% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19$18.19
$2.10฿69.0
766.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4$72.4
$19.84฿653
264.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.85$9.85
$5.79฿191
70.12%
Cappuccino
$5.08$5.08
$1.83฿60.2
177.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$0.78฿25.51
184.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67$1.67
$0.31฿10.33
438.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87$5.87
$2.34฿76.9
150.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95$7.95
$3.70฿122
114.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$2.03฿66.8
-56.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58$1.58
$1.60฿52.5
-1.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04$2.04
$1.42฿46.57
43.66%
Eggs
$2.75$2.75
$2.18฿71.6
26.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19$8.19
$15.91฿523
-48.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04$6.04
$3.07฿101
96.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.04$17.04
$9.87฿325
72.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$2.63฿86.4
8.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32$1.32
$1.10฿36.05
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$1.63฿53.6
73.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$1.53฿50.4
88.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05$1.05
$1.24฿40.97
-15.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$1.13฿37.22
53.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71$1.71
$0.74฿24.29
131.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17$1.17
$0.50฿16.42
134.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04$8.04
$4.28฿141
87.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.75$9.75
$17.97฿591
-45.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56$1.56
$1.70฿55.9
-8.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$2.90฿95.3
-39.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52$2.52
$0.94฿31.00
168.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,820
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.44$2.44
$1.23฿40.60
98.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28$2.28
$0.53฿17.59
330.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.80$24.80
$2.40฿79.0
933.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$1.44฿47.37
-34.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K$37.2K
$21.2K฿697.5K
75.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$27.3K฿898.6K
-4.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196$196
$64.9฿2,137
201.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.11$49.11
$13.35฿439
267.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.8$77.8
$20.83฿686
273.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.90$40.90
$40.42฿1,330
1.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.16$15.16
$6.71฿221
125.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,295$1,295
$787฿25.9K
64.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.2K$20.2K
$15.1K฿497.7K
33.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7$71.7
$56.2฿1,850
27.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.05$46.05
$24.95฿821
84.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112$112
$92.7฿3,051
20.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109$109
$75.1฿2,472
45.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614$1,614
$484฿15.9K
233.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,313$1,313
$287฿9,454
357.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,532$2,532
$910฿29.9K
178.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,121$2,121
$531฿17.5K
299.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,969$1,969
$1,980฿65.2K
-0.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,993$1,993
$1,451฿47.8K
37.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blackfoot, ID
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.04
5.57
8.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Blackfoot, ID: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Blackfoot, ID and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Blackfoot, ID vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $242 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 155% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,640 in Blackfoot, ID and $1,426 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: $1,614 in Blackfoot, ID versus $484 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 in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,427 per month in Blackfoot, ID versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Blackfoot, ID or in Chiang Mai?
At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $2,427 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 155% 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