Idaho has some of the fastest-growing and most affordable places around.
Flourishing companies like Albertsons in Boise and the Idaho Candy Company in Owyhee fuel the demand for Idaho real estate. But, there are still inexpensive places to live in the potatoes-producing state if you know where to look. So, where exactly should you look for the cheapest places to live in Idaho?
Using Saturday Night Science, we analyzed US Census data on home prices, median income, and overall cost of living for every place in Idaho to identify where you should plant your spuds.
$45,292 median income · $927 median rent · #5 home prices in Idaho
Weiser is a city in the rural western part of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Washington County. With its mild climate, the city supports farm, orchard, and livestock endeavors in the vicinity. The city sits at the confluence of the Weiser River with the great Snake River, which marks the border with Oregon. The population was 5,507 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$67,468 median income · $984 median rent · #2 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Minidoka County, Idaho
We’ll take a short drive southwest from Rupert to arrive at our second most affordable place in Idaho, Burley. Burley is located on the south bank of Snake River, one of the premier spots to waterski, windsurf, and fish in southern Idaho.
Buying a home in Burley will set you back about $330,751, the second lowest price in Idaho. The median income in Burley is $67,468, giving the city the fifth best home price to income ratio in Idaho.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$55,208 median income · $837 median rent · #7 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Payette County, Idaho
If you’re a sucker for a good deal, there’s nowhere better in Idaho than Payette, a little city an hour northwest of Boise. Payette boasts the seventh cheapest homes statewide, with a median price of $368,362. And with a median income of $55,208, Payette residents pay the 25th smallest percentage of their salaries on homes anywhere in Idaho. On top of that, folks in Payette enjoy the 13th best rent to income ratio in the state. If you do decide to settle down in Payette, be sure to mark the annual week-long Apple Blossom Festival on your calendar.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$65,457 median income · $798 median rent · #14 home prices in Idaho
Fruitland, Idaho is a great place to live for those looking for an affordable option. With a median home value of $409,435 and a median rent of $798, the cost of living is quite reasonable compared to other places in Idaho.
In addition to being affordable, Fruitland also boasts a strong economy with an unemployment rate of just 1.81%. Its location along Route 95 in the Treasure Valley makes it an ideal spot for those looking for easy access to both Boise and Oregon. Fruitland offers a great quality of life at an affordable price point, making it a top choice for those looking to settle down in Idaho.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$54,741 median income · $856 median rent · #1 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Minidoka County, Idaho
You’d find it nearly impossible to find a lower price on homes than in Rupert, our fifth cheapest city in Idaho. That’s because, at a median price of $326,313, Rupert has the first least expensive homes in the state. Even better, Rupert enjoys the 18th best home price to income ratio in Idaho. Rupert is also one of the best cities for families in Idaho, you if you’re just starting a new family without much in the way of excess funds, Rupert’s got you covered. And don’t worry about being bored here; we promise that there are loads of things to do on a budget in Rupert.
Rupert is located in southern Idaho, between Pocatello and Twin Falls.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$64,032 median income · $839 median rent · #8 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Bingham County, Idaho
Located between Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Blackfoot ranks as the sixth least expensive place to call home in the Gem State. Rent in Blackfoot is absurdly cheap, with a median price of $839; that’s less than half the average rent in Idaho. Even more importantly, with a median income of $64,032, Blackfoot residents get the fifth best deal on rent statewide. If you decide you like Blackfoot enough to settle down for good, a home will set you back about $369,865.
But if you’re just visiting Blackfoot, be sure to take advantage of the “free taters for out of staters” deal at the Idaho Potato Museum.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$58,750 median income · $1,042 median rent · #21 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Gem County, Idaho
Emmett, Idaho is a great place to live for those looking for an affordable option. With a median home value of $455,351 and median rent of just $1,042, the cost of living in Emmett is below the national average. Additionally, the cost of living index is 95, making it an ideal spot for those who want to stretch their dollar further.
As the county seat and the only city in Gem County, Emmett has a small-town feel with easy access to larger cities like Boise. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Emmett’s proximity to the Payette River and nearby hiking trails. And with a low unemployment rate of just 2.12%, there are plenty of job opportunities available for those who choose to call Emmett home.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$85,056 median income · $1,180 median rent · #25 home prices in Idaho
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$73,110 median income · $1,075 median rent · #11 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Bonneville County, Idaho
Welcome to Idaho Falls, the last stop on our tour of uber-affordable spots in Idaho. Idaho Falls ia a happening city that scored an 8/10 on our overall SnackAbility scale, with an emphasis on a great market for jobs and homes, short commutes, and great amenities — all for some of the lowest prices in the state.
We also named Idaho Falls one of the best cities for singles in Idaho, thanks to fabulous date night options like catching a Chukars game at Melaleuca Field or just wandering down the Idaho Falls River Walk. The median rent in Idaho Falls is $1,075 and the median home price is $395,035.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$60,418 median income · $948 median rent · #3 home prices in Idaho
Located in
Power County, Idaho
As one of the biggest cities in Idaho, Pocatello proves that you can have all the convenience of a large place without paying a large price. Pocatello is home to the Idaho Museum of Natural History, but if you’re looking for a more unique historical perspective, the Museum of Clean is a great place to spend the day. Homes in Pocatello are the third cheapest in Idaho, with a median price of $336,559. Pocatello residents also pay the 16th smallest percentage of their income on rent in Idaho.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Idaho’s statewide median.
Idaho statewide median: $473,335
Idaho statewide median: $77,800
On the map
Where your money goes furthest in Idaho
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Gem State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Idaho boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Idaho using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Idaho to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 35 places in Idaho that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Idaho with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Weiser.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Idaho.
The full plate
Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weiser | 5,935 | 87 | $45,292 | $363,062 | $927 |
| 2 | Burley | 11,958 | 92 | $67,468 | $330,751 | $984 |
| 3 | Payette | 8,536 | 92 | $55,208 | $368,362 | $837 |
| 4 | Fruitland | 6,663 | 92 | $65,457 | $409,435 | $798 |
| 5 | Rupert | 6,190 | 94 | $54,741 | $326,313 | $856 |
| 6 | Blackfoot | 12,782 | 95 | $64,032 | $369,865 | $839 |
| 7 | Emmett | 8,275 | 95 | $58,750 | $455,351 | $1,042 |
| 8 | Rigby | 5,404 | 95 | $85,056 | $472,610 | $1,180 |
| 9 | Idaho Falls | 67,725 | 97 | $73,110 | $395,035 | $1,075 |
| 10 | Pocatello | 57,635 | 97 | $60,418 | $336,559 | $948 |
| 11 | Jerome | 12,930 | 97 | $66,894 | $399,693 | $947 |
| 12 | Caldwell | 66,516 | 98 | $73,058 | $396,876 | $1,264 |
| 13 | Twin Falls | 54,164 | 98 | $61,205 | $367,064 | $1,082 |
| 14 | Mountain Home | 16,493 | 98 | $63,125 | $358,404 | $1,155 |
| 15 | Shelley | 5,092 | 99 | $77,563 | $429,812 | $1,265 |
| 16 | Lewiston | 34,651 | 100 | $72,197 | $382,188 | $1,027 |
| 17 | Preston | 5,928 | 101 | $61,039 | $431,655 | $811 |
| 18 | Kimberly | 5,111 | 101 | $97,799 | $448,259 | $1,127 |
| 19 | Nampa | 110,319 | 102 | $74,279 | $412,277 | $1,420 |
| 20 | Rexburg | 40,543 | 102 | $50,617 | $420,170 | $1,004 |
| 21 | Middleton | 10,649 | 102 | $89,013 | $499,966 | $1,147 |
| 22 | Chubbuck | 16,126 | 103 | $82,977 | $379,219 | $1,048 |
| 23 | Ammon | 19,064 | 106 | $86,121 | $416,580 | $1,372 |
| 24 | Garden City | 12,654 | 107 | $70,124 | $470,736 | $1,323 |
| 25 | Post Falls | 43,391 | 109 | $82,183 | $526,055 | $1,469 |
| 26 | Coeur d’Alene | 56,447 | 110 | $72,338 | $599,946 | $1,468 |
| 27 | Kuna | 27,158 | 110 | $96,219 | $455,595 | $1,774 |
| 28 | Moscow | 26,286 | 111 | $57,022 | $467,640 | $927 |
| 29 | Rathdrum | 10,874 | 111 | $86,563 | $574,778 | $1,459 |
| 30 | Sandpoint | 9,637 | 113 | $72,289 | $632,345 | $1,125 |
| 31 | Hayden | 16,338 | 114 | $82,958 | $636,614 | $1,733 |
| 32 | Star | 14,745 | 117 | $97,936 | $577,031 | $1,924 |
| 33 | Meridian | 130,138 | 121 | $100,795 | $526,994 | $1,805 |
| 34 | Hailey | 9,665 | 125 | $90,760 | $900,673 | $1,460 |
| 35 | Eagle | 32,855 | 138 | $122,894 | $781,181 | $1,765 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, cost-of-living data. 35 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Idaho Affordability Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Idaho for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Idaho.
The cheapest cities in Idaho are Weiser, Burley, Payette, Fruitland, Rupert, Blackfoot, Emmett, Rigby, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello.
