Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 35% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$973
$818
+16% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$827
+21% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$957
+26% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,278
+11% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$298,600
+37% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$69,630
+54% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$46,800
+22% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.1 yr in Idaho Falls, ID
Homeownership
25.7%
64.1%
+38.4 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
31.0%
+12.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Avg Commute
22.8 min
18.2 min
+4.6 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
365.3
+31% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
1,235.5
+58% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
44.2°F
+7.0°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
10.4 in
+33.2 in in Hartford, CT

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)
24.3
14.4
+41% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$11.33
+51% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / ID)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
5.30%
+1.7 pp in CT

Hartford vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Idaho Falls?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).