Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,194 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,403 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,612 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Idaho Falls, ID costs about 153% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Idaho Falls, ID sits 64% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.47 $18.47

$1.94 ฿63.5

852.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.55 $49.55

$18.64 ฿609

165.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 $10.01

$7.82 ฿255

28.01%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$1.95 ฿63.8

160.51%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$0.85 ฿27.77

167.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.35 ฿11.58

354.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.13 ฿69.6

84.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$3.73 ฿122

86.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.71 ฿56.0

-44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.63 ฿53.2

98.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.14 ฿37.15

233.33%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$1.93 ฿63.1

125.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 $10.62

$16.21 ฿530

-34.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$3.12 ฿102

225.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.16 $12.16

$10.90 ฿356

11.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.75 ฿90.0

24.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.21 ฿39.52

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.62 ฿53.0

69.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.59 ฿51.8

76.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.40 ฿45.70

18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.17 ฿38.17

118.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.66 ฿21.60

189.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.53 ฿17.22

269.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.22 $9.22

$4.69 ฿153

96.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.59 $7.59

$18.66 ฿609

-59.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.80 ฿58.8

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.23 ฿106

-53.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.90 ฿29.26

125.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.41 ฿45.91

78.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.29 ฿42.12

11.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$7.84 ฿256

219.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.27 ฿41.58

-29.92%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

19.38%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

19.65%

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

$158 $158

$69.1 ฿2,256

128.77%

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

$43.06 $43.06

$14.08 ฿460

205.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.9 $56.9

$18.00 ฿588

215.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.71 $37.71

$41.06 ฿1,341

-8.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$13.50 $13.50

$5.92 ฿193

128.04%

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

$965 $965

$299 ฿9,766

222.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

25.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 $59.3

$54.7 ฿1,787

8.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.58 $43.58

$26.77 ฿874

62.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$85.0 ฿2,776

0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.2 $93.2

$70.6 ฿2,306

32.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$428 ฿14.0K

129.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 $1,146

$237 ฿7,752

382.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,923 $1,923

$801 ฿26.2K

139.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,215 $2,215

$515 ฿16.8K

329.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,854 $1,854

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-6.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,839 $1,839

$1,475 ฿48.2K

24.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,591 $3,591

$617 ฿20.2K

481.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

26.40%

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

Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $428 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 482% higher in Idaho Falls, ID, 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 $50.0 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $246 – 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

Idaho Falls, ID vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Falls, ID costs about 153% 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 $3,291 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,300 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Idaho Falls, ID and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Idaho Falls, ID, 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 $866, than in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,194. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Idaho Falls, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,194 in Idaho Falls, ID. 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, Idaho Falls, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.