Before you decide to relocate to Idaho, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Idaho that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 32 places in Idaho with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Idaho for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Idaho For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Idaho? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Eagle is the most expensive place to live in Idaho.
Rupert (the cheapest place to live in Idaho) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Idaho and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Idaho For 2024
/10
Population: 30,635
Cost Of Living Index: 119
Median Income: $114,271
Average Home Price: $798,612
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x
More on Eagle: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Eagle is 119. The median income in Eagle comes in at $114,271 and the average home value is $798,612 for 2024.
/10
Population: 11,971
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $88,625
Average Home Price: $556,806
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Star: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Star is 105. The median income in Star comes in at $88,625 and the average home value is $556,806 for 2024.
/10
Population: 119,872
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $93,296
Average Home Price: $510,137
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.5x
More on Meridian: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Meridian is 103. The median income in Meridian comes in at $93,296 and the average home value is $510,137 for 2024.
/10
Population: 15,703
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $72,227
Average Home Price: $573,102
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.9x
More on Hayden: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Hayden is 103. The median income in Hayden comes in at $72,227 and the average home value is $573,102 for 2024.
/10
Population: 9,238
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $77,035
Average Home Price: $776,233
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.1x
More on Hailey: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Hailey is 103. The median income in Hailey comes in at $77,035 and the average home value is $776,233 for 2024.
/10
Population: 8,899
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $60,208
Average Home Price: $593,858
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.9x
More on Sandpoint: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Sandpoint is 103. The median income in Sandpoint comes in at $60,208 and the average home value is $593,858 for 2024.
/10
Population: 54,599
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $65,786
Average Home Price: $548,397
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.3x
More on Coeur D’alene: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Coeur D’alene is 102. The median income in Coeur D’alene comes in at $65,786 and the average home value is $548,397 for 2024.
/10
Population: 38,803
Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $46,286
Average Home Price: $393,055
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.5x
More on Rexburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Rexburg is 101. The median income in Rexburg comes in at $46,286 and the average home value is $393,055 for 2024.
/10
Population: 25,616
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $53,679
Average Home Price: $432,402
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.1x
More on Moscow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Moscow is 100. The median income in Moscow comes in at $53,679 and the average home value is $432,402 for 2024.
/10
Population: 12,301
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $61,548
Average Home Price: $485,171
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.9x
More on Garden City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Garden City is 100. The median income in Garden City comes in at $61,548 and the average home value is $485,171 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Gem State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Idaho are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Idaho to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 32 places in Idaho that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Idaho according to the data is Eagle. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Idaho.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Idaho For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Idaho that have the highest cost of living, with Eagle ranking as the most expensive city in the Gem State.
The most expensive cities in Idaho are Eagle, Star, Meridian, Hayden, Hailey, Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Rexburg, Moscow, and Garden City.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Idaho according to the data:
- Rupert
- Jerome
- Burley
For more Idaho reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Idaho
- Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
- Most Dangerous Cities In Idaho
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho
- Safest Places In Idaho
- Worst Places To Live In Idaho
Most Expensive Cities In Idaho
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle | 119 | 30,635 | $114,271 | $798,612 | 7.0x |
| 2 | Star | 105 | 11,971 | $88,625 | $556,806 | 6.3x |
| 3 | Meridian | 103 | 119,872 | $93,296 | $510,137 | 5.5x |
| 4 | Hayden | 103 | 15,703 | $72,227 | $573,102 | 7.9x |
| 5 | Hailey | 103 | 9,238 | $77,035 | $776,233 | 10.1x |
| 6 | Sandpoint | 103 | 8,899 | $60,208 | $593,858 | 9.9x |
| 7 | Coeur d’Alene | 102 | 54,599 | $65,786 | $548,397 | 8.3x |
| 8 | Rexburg | 101 | 38,803 | $46,286 | $393,055 | 8.5x |
| 9 | Moscow | 100 | 25,616 | $53,679 | $432,402 | 8.1x |
| 10 | Garden City | 100 | 12,301 | $61,548 | $485,171 | 7.9x |
| 11 | Post Falls | 98 | 40,002 | $71,042 | $489,488 | 6.9x |
| 12 | Lewiston | 98 | 34,270 | $63,109 | $356,242 | 5.6x |
| 13 | Kuna | 98 | 24,845 | $83,960 | $423,480 | 5.0x |
| 14 | Rathdrum | 97 | 9,556 | $80,934 | $525,955 | 6.5x |
| 15 | Middleton | 95 | 9,614 | $68,947 | $468,505 | 6.8x |
| 16 | Nampa | 94 | 102,598 | $67,346 | $396,042 | 5.9x |
| 17 | Fruitland | 94 | 6,169 | $64,167 | $393,238 | 6.1x |
| 18 | Caldwell | 93 | 61,212 | $65,259 | $379,133 | 5.8x |
| 19 | Mountain Home | 93 | 16,026 | $53,108 | $339,060 | 6.4x |
| 20 | Chubbuck | 92 | 15,638 | $69,992 | $364,541 | 5.2x |
| 21 | Preston | 91 | 5,668 | $51,914 | $395,648 | 7.6x |
| 22 | Twin Falls | 90 | 52,315 | $58,024 | $348,378 | 6.0x |
| 23 | Ammon | 90 | 17,921 | $76,471 | $391,748 | 5.1x |
| 24 | Weiser | 90 | 5,678 | $41,491 | $319,644 | 7.7x |
| 25 | Pocatello | 89 | 56,582 | $56,115 | $313,922 | 5.6x |
| 26 | Idaho Falls | 88 | 65,685 | $66,463 | $366,971 | 5.5x |
| 27 | Payette | 88 | 8,182 | $51,477 | $340,535 | 6.6x |
| 28 | Emmett | 88 | 7,694 | $54,575 | $428,806 | 7.9x |
| 29 | Blackfoot | 87 | 12,349 | $57,951 | $331,966 | 5.7x |
| 30 | Burley | 84 | 11,506 | $58,889 | $315,637 | 5.4x |
| 31 | Jerome | 83 | 12,482 | $59,656 | $366,237 | 6.1x |
| 32 | Rupert | 81 | 6,066 | $53,348 | $295,733 | 5.5x |