Cost of living in Idaho
Prices in Idaho are 4.5% below the US average (29th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,867 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Idaho
| BEA RPP 2024 | Idaho | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 90.0 | −10.0% |
| Utilities | 70.4 | −29.6% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Metros in Idaho
Metros whose principal city is in Idaho. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 864,243 | 98.4 | $1,540 | $208 | $1,101 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 191,864 | 98.3 | $1,507 | $166 | $1,106 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 173,851 | 94.4 | $1,274 | $166 | $1,332 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 123,901 | 92.1 | $1,285 | $127 | $1,414 |
| Pocatello, ID | 91,591 | 88.9 | $1,251 | $127 | $1,440 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 65,450 | 91.2 | $1,234 | $166 | $1,451 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Idaho: Logan, UT-ID.
Taxes in Idaho (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Idaho income tax | $1,542 | $2,867 | $5,252 | $4,143 |
| Idaho payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,401 | $4,894 | $7,333 | $8,420 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Idaho’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,867 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Idaho
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $127 | $8,070 | $109 |
| Toddler (2) | $122 | $7,728 | $109 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $113 | $7,157 | $102 |
| School-age (5–12) | $108 | $6,895 | $102 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $106 a week in Custer County to $208 in Ada County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 44 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nez Perce County | $334,700 | $2,609 | 0.78% |
| Bannock County | $300,700 | $1,920 | 0.64% |
| Jerome County | $271,800 | $1,725 | 0.63% |
| Twin Falls County | $337,900 | $2,066 | 0.61% |
| Ada County | $512,300 | $2,655 | 0.52% |
| Kootenai County | $518,700 | $2,267 | 0.44% |
| Owyhee County | $359,800 | $1,432 | 0.40% |
| Franklin County | $372,600 | $1,482 | 0.40% |
| Boise County | $476,100 | $1,611 | 0.34% |
| Gem County | $428,700 | $1,418 | 0.33% |
Five highest and five lowest of 14 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Idaho
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 72,442 in, 60,127 out (net +12,315).
- Washington17,837 ±3,554
- California15,385 ±2,919
- Utah5,417 ±1,302
- Arizona4,511 ±1,645
- Oregon4,206 ±1,226
- Nevada3,270 ±1,674
- Colorado2,295 ±1,050
- Montana2,214 ±1,018
- Utah8,393 ±2,579
- Washington7,927 ±1,960
- California6,509 ±1,562
- Arizona5,130 ±2,437
- Oregon4,397 ±1,638
- Texas3,374 ±1,645
- Colorado2,345 ±1,075
- Nevada2,150 ±766
Frequently asked questions
Is Idaho expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Idaho’s overall price level at 95.5 in 2024 (US = 100), the 29th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 90.0 and goods 96.3.
Does Idaho have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,867 in Idaho income tax under 2026 law (3.8% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Idaho?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 6%. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Idaho?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Lewiston, ID-WA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,451), and Boise City, ID the least ($1,101).