What it actually costs to live in Idaho.
Idaho’s cost-of-living index sits at 99 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #27 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Idaho costs about 1% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $465,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,329/mo.
Idaho cost components
| Component | Idaho | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 99 | 100 |
| Median home price | $465,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,329/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $177/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Idaho compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Idaho ranks #27 for cost. That places Idaho in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Idaho metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Boise has very different housing dynamics than smaller Idaho metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- BoiseCOL 107 · home $435,000rent $1,298/mo →
- MeridianCOL 105 · home $465,000rent $1,550/mo →
- NampaCOL 97 · home $380,000rent $1,300/mo →
More Idaho metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Idaho cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Idaho?
Idaho's MERIC cost-of-living index is 99 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Idaho costs about 1% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Idaho?
Idaho's state-level median home price is approximately $465,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Idaho?
Idaho's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,329/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Idaho-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Idaho led the US in home-price appreciation 2020–2022 (Boise +50%+); Treasure Valley COL has converged toward CA/CO levels while wages still trail.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.