How Much Does It Actually Cost To Live in Idaho in 2026?

Idaho is the cheapest utilities state in the US — and it almost makes up for Boise home prices. The cost of living in Idaho is 94 vs 100 national average — 6% cheaper.

Index breakdown: Housing 87 vs 100, Groceries 95, Health 97, Transportation 107, Utilities 81 vs 100 — actually 73.4 cheapest in country, 26.6% below national, vs Hawaii 183.5, Services 97

Total crime 1,443 per 100k, violent 223. Real cost of living in Eastern Idaho runs about 17% below national — Idaho Falls COL index ∼83.

1. Average Rent in Idaho 2026

• Statewide: Average rent $1,200/mo avg rent for 2BR in Rexburg model. Idaho median listing price $599,000 +1.77% YoY -0.69% MoM, median rental price $2,112 +11.16% YoY +0.81% MoM — rent rising fast statewide

• Boise:

  • Average rent $1,781, Median listing $639,000 at $331 / $2,495/mo rent, 2BR rent $1,470-$1,741. Boise monthly rent for 1BR around $1,795, median 1BR $1,450, 2BR $1,680. Apartments.com: Studio 465 sq ft $1,370, 1BR 674 sq ft $1,541, 2BR 959 sq ft $1,736, 3BR $1,906+. Boise for homeowner housing $2,621/mo +4.2% higher than US avg, groceries $1,403 +2.6% — homeowner model includes mortgage

  • Single person monthly expenses ∼$1,130 excluding rent, family of four ∼$4,114 excluding

• Idaho Falls:

  • Average rent $1,556, median $1,500/mo, median home $429,900 at $175 / $1,500/mo. Average $1,226/month 725 sq ft -3.4% YoY — 25% lower than national $1,644. Studio $935, 1BR $1,226, 2BR $1,407. May 2026: studio $932, 1BR $1,214, 2BR $1,393, 3BR $1,803 — rent decreased -4.3% past year. Rent price change -6.25% month-over-month to median $1.5K — buyer's market Sept 2026, sale-to-list 100%

  • Property type: Apartment $1,214/mo 725 sq ft, House $2,105/mo 1,830 sq ft, Condo $1,087/mo 907 sq ft, Townhome $1,862/mo 1,675 sq ft. Median home value $395,034, median rent $1,075, median income $73,110

  • Total with rent $1,889 single / $4,224 family, without rent $697 / $2,355, Rent & Utilities $1,192 / $1,870, Food $506 / $1,313

• Post Falls: $1,585 average

• Rexburg: Housing rent $800 low / $1,200 avg / $1,900 high, 1BR in town vs outlying

Boise ranked 33rd nationally for rental costs. Idaho Falls is 60% pricier than Lecce, Italy — gap most in Monthly Utilities & Internet, comfortable life $3,513/mo Idaho Falls vs $2,196 Lecce.

2. Utilities & Electric Bill in Idaho 2026 — Cheapest in America

This is why people move.

• Idaho has the cheapest utilities in the country at 73.4, or 26.6% below national average. Hawaii's utility index is 2.5x Idaho's

• Average monthly residential bill:

  • $115.23 per month — 4th lowest in US, Utah 2nd lowest $103.44 or $1,199 annually — Wolf River Electric analysis based on EIA

  • Idaho Power rates well below national average, Utilities ∼$235 electric, water, sewer, trash

  • $240/mo average electric, heating, cooling, water — Rexburg model

  • $200-$300/month combined gas+electric on 2,400 sq ft home — Eastern Idaho real numbers

• Avista Idaho 2026 filings:

  • Typical 66-therm monthly gas bill fall from $59.28 to $58.38

  • Typical residential electric using 939 kWh — bill rise from $119.52 to $127.28 — +$7.76/month or +6.5% — PCA, FCA, ResEx filings, effective Oct 1 2026. Overall 5.3% electric revenue increase effective Oct 1 2026. Effective Sept 2026: 5.3% or $6.36 for revised monthly bill $126.02 from $119.66

• Boise homeowner utilities $602/month -27.6% lower than US avg — includes mortgage model but utilities portion cheap

• Utilities 81 vs 100 index — cheapest category

Transportation is where car-dependency shows — costs 5-9% above national — budget $200 getting around, plus house maintenance $200, shopping $500, health/misc $400, travel/leisure $200. Average mortgage in Boise ∼$981 monthly.

3. Groceries in Idaho 2026

• Groceries 95 vs 100 — 5% cheaper, 93.2 Mississippi to 136.3 Hawaii, 45 of 51 jurisdictions inside seven points of average

• Rexburg groceries $250 low / $350 average / $520 high — single or small family $350/mo

• Boise groceries $450-$600 estimate for 2-person household — roughly 3-4% above US average, homeowner groceries $1,403 +2.6%

• Idaho Falls food $506 single / $1,313 family

• Average monthly breakdown: Food and drink $400, getting around $200, house upkeep $200, shopping $500, health/misc $400, travel/leisure $200

Groceries 20-30% cheaper than coastal cities.

4. Total: What Does It Cost To Live in Idaho in 2026?

Single, Boise:
Rent 1BR $1,541 + Utilities $235 + Groceries $500 + Transport $250 + Insurance $150 = $2,676/mo or $32,112/yr
Excluding rent $1,130 matches — total $2,671.

Single, Idaho Falls (cheapest metro):
Rent $1,226 + Utilities $200 + Groceries $400 + Transport $200 = $2,026/mo or $24,312/yr
Total with rent $1,889 model — close. Comfortable life $3,513 includes more leisure.

Family of 4, Idaho Falls:
Rent & Utilities $1,870 + Food $1,313 + Transport $300 + Healthcare $400 = $3,883/mo or $46,596/yr vs $4,224 total with rent model — excludes childcare

Family of 4, Boise:
Excluding rent $4,114 + Rent $1,736 = $5,850/mo or $70,200/yr

Statewide: Based on average housing, utilities, healthcare, transport, groceries, Idaho's cost is lowest of 11 western states.

5. Is Idaho Worth It?

Pros: Utilities cheapest in US — 73.4 index, 26.6% below national, electric $115/month 4th lowest, Idaho Power well below national, no sales tax on groceries? Actually 6% sales tax. Low crime vs national.

Cons: Transportation 107 — 7% above national, car-dependent, Boise home $599k median up 1.77%, rent $2,112 up 11.16% YoY — Boise becoming expensive. Idaho Falls rent down -6.25% MoM — better deal.

If you want Idaho cheap: Idaho Falls $1,226 1BR, utilities $200-$300, total $1,889 single. If you want Boise: budget $1,781 avg + $981 mortgage avg + $235 utilities.