Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 20% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$802
$818
+2% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$827
+19% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$957
+18% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,278
+4% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$298,600
+23% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$69,630
+25% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$46,800
+1% in Idaho Falls, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
33.5 yr
+4.8 yr in Idaho Falls, ID
Homeownership
47.3%
64.1%
+16.8 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
31.0%
+15.1 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
18.2 min
+0.8 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
365.3
+53% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
1,235.5
+62% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
44.2°F
+20.7°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
10.4 in
+35.0 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
14.4
+8% in Columbia, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$11.33
+61% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC
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 (SC / ID)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.30%
+0.7 pp in SC

Columbia vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Idaho Falls?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).