Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Idaho Falls?

Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Idaho Falls?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Idaho Falls?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Austin vs Idaho Falls Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 24% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$818

+39% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$827

+43% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$957

+46% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,278

+40% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$298,600

+42% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$69,630

+24% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$46,800

+18% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

33.5 yr

+1.0 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

64.1%

+19.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

31.0%

+27.2 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

18.2 min

+5.8 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

365.3

+23% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,235.5

+62% in Austin, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

44.2°F

+23.0°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

10.4 in

+24.5 in in Austin, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.27/gal

+19% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.4

+10% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$11.33

+64% in Austin, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Idaho Falls, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Idaho Falls, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Austin, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Idaho Falls, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / ID)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Austin vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Idaho Falls?: Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Idaho Falls?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Idaho Falls?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).