Cost of Living in Idaho: Cities where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024
What is the cost of living in Idaho? doxo breaks down key insights about Idaho’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Idaho pays $2,028 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Phone, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Idaho’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Idaho ranks as the 28th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Idaho is ranked as the 28th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills, making it the least expensive state for these expenses.
At $24,335 per year, Idaho’s household expenses, on average, are 5% lower than the US average of $25,513.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Idaho households spend 34% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national average and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national average. The COBI for Idaho is 95.
- Average Bill Cost per Household: $2,028 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 95
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #28
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 34%
- Compared to the National Average: 5% lower
Idaho Household Expenses are 5% Lower Than the National Average
The average Idaho household pays $2,028 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the average monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Idaho is $67, compared to the national average of $85, making it 24% lower than average.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Idaho residents. The average monthly mortgage payment is $1,266, compared to the national average of $1,402, making it 10% less expensive.
Average Idaho Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Average Idaho Monthly Bill | National Average Monthly Bill | Idaho Percent +/- National Average ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,266 | $1,402 | 10% lower |
| Rent | $1,091 | $1,300 | 17% lower |
| Auto Loan | $491 | $496 | 1% lower |
| Utilities | $362 | $362 | The same |
| Auto Insurance | $214 | $209 | 2% higher |
| Health Insurance | $149 | $114 | 27% higher |
| Mobile Phone | $110 | $121 | 10% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $111 | $122 | 9% lower |
| Life Insurance | $125 | $87 | 36% higher |
| Alarm & Security | $67 | $85 | 24% lower |
| Total | $2,028 | $2,126 | 5% lower |
Eagle Has the Highest Cost of Living in Idaho for Household Bills
Residents of Eagle pay the highest household bills in the state of Idaho, at an average of $2,453 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Eagle is 115, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 15% higher than the national average.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Eagle makeup 26% of the average annual household income of $114,021.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
10 Most Expensive Idaho Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Eagle | $121,536 | $2,453 | 115 | 15% higher | 26% |
| 2 | Hailey | $81,427 | $2,372 | 112 | 12% higher | 35% |
| 3 | Star | $91,740 | $2,353 | 111 | 11% higher | 31% |
| 4 | Meridian | $93,660 | $2,348 | 110 | 10% higher | 30% |
| 5 | Kuna | $84,897 | $2,296 | 108 | 8% higher | 32% |
| 6 | McCall | $85,585 | $2,213 | 104 | 4% higher | 31% |
| 7 | Middleton | $77,781 | $2,212 | 104 | 4% higher | 34% |
| 8 | Moscow | $56,672 | $2,203 | 104 | 4% higher | 47% |
| 9 | Rathdrum | $86,971 | $2,175 | 102 | 2% higher | 30% |
| 10 | Ketchum | $89,622 | $2,173 | 102 | 2% higher | 29% |
Pocatello Has the Lowest Cost of Living in Idaho for Household Bills
Out of 29 cities, Pocatello is the most affordable place in Idaho, with residents paying $1,657 on average for household bills, accounting for 34% of annual income of $59,287. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Pocatello is 78, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 22% below the national average.
Emmett is the second most affordable city in Idaho, with residents paying $1,695 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 10 least expensive cities in Idaho are Burley ($1,753), Caldwell ($1,799) and Mountain Home ($1,844).
10 Most Affordable Idaho Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 20 | Rigby | $79,252 | $1,956 | 92 | 8% lower | 30% |
| 21 | Rexburg | $52,131 | $1,946 | 92 | 8% lower | 45% |
| 22 | Hayden | $77,219 | $1,936 | 91 | 9% lower | 30% |
| 23 | Idaho Falls | $73,473 | $1,867 | 88 | 12% lower | 30% |
| 24 | Jerome | $67,941 | $1,844 | 87 | 13% lower | 33% |
| 25 | Mountain Home | $54,487 | $1,844 | 87 | 87% lower | 41% |
| 26 | Caldwell | $65,219 | $1,799 | 85 | 15% lower | 33% |
| 27 | Burley | $63,511 | $1,753 | 82 | 18% lower | 33% |
| 28 | Emmett | $64,554 | $1,695 | 80 | 20% lower | 31% |
| 29 | Pocatello | $59,287 | $1,657 | 78 | 22% lower | 34% |
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Idaho with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.