Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 11% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$818
+43% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$827
+40% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$957
+36% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,278
+23% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$298,600
+15% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$69,630
+11% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$46,800
+6% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.9 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
51.5%
64.1%
+12.6 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
31.0%
+16.4 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
18.2 min
+6.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
365.3
+50% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,235.5
+67% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
44.2°F
+15.7°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
10.4 in
+31.2 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
14.4
+3% in Charlotte, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.10
$11.33
+62% in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC
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 (NC / ID)
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.30%
+1.3 pp in ID

Charlotte vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Idaho Falls?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).