Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 44% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$678
$818
+21% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$732
$827
+13% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$903
$957
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,278
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$298,600
+217% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$69,630
+78% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$46,800
+7% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
33.5 yr
+2.8 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
64.1%
+22.9 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
31.0%
+9.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Avg Commute
22.9 min
18.2 min
+4.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
365.3
+77% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
1,235.5
+73% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
44.2°F
+8.5°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
10.4 in
+26.0 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$4.27/gal
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Ohio vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
14.4
+25% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$11.33
+50% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / ID)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.30%
+2.5 pp in ID

Cleveland vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Idaho Falls?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Idaho Falls?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).