Cost of living in Idaho Falls research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Idaho Falls is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Idaho, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Idaho Falls is 95, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Idaho Falls is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Idaho Falls ranks as the #9 cheapest in Idaho out of 33.
Idaho Falls ranks as the #1,954 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Idaho Falls is $387,334.
The median income in Idaho Falls is $69,630.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Idaho Falls has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Idaho, Idaho Falls has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Idaho's index of 94.
The standard of living in Idaho Falls ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 33 places we measured in Idaho. By definition, that implies Idaho Falls ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Gem State.
For more reading on life in Idaho Falls, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Idaho Falls. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Idaho Falls is 94.
The Groceries index in Idaho Falls is 100.
The Health index in Idaho Falls is 97.
The Housing index in Idaho Falls is 94.
The Transportation index in Idaho Falls is 102.
The Utilities index in Idaho Falls is 86.
| Living Expense | Idaho Falls | Idaho | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 94 | 100 | |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 100 | 103 | 100 | |
| Health | 97 | 98 | 100 | |
| Housing | 94 | 86 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 102 | 103 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 86 | 86 | 100 | |
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Idaho, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Idaho Falls is $387,334.
The Median Rent in Idaho Falls is $992.
The Median Income in Idaho Falls is $69,630.
The Home Value To Income in Idaho Falls is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Idaho Falls is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Idaho Falls | Idaho | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $387,334 | $468,436 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $992 | $1,150 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $69,630 | $74,636 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 6.3x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
| Item | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.32 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.96 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $36.09 | $45.56 |
| Item | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.62 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.41 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.16 | $3.7 |
| Item | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $130.57 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $151.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.67 | $113.29 |
| Item | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.7 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.7 | $59.92 |
| Item | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $177.84 | $192.25 |
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Idaho Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pocatello, ID has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Idaho Falls.
Rexburg, ID has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Idaho Falls.
Ammon, ID has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Idaho Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Idaho Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocatello, ID | 57,152 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Rexburg, ID | 39,589 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Ammon, ID | 18,496 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Chubbuck, ID | 15,900 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Blackfoot, ID | 12,628 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Rigby, ID | 5,251 | 102 | 1.1x |