Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $1,230 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 3% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$818
$961
+17% in Kansas City, MO
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,031
+25% in Kansas City, MO
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,211
+27% in Kansas City, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,381
+8% in Kansas City, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$227,000
+24% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$67,449
+3% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$50,820
+9% in Kansas City, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.7 yr
+2.2 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
64.1%
54.6%
+9.5 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
37.8%
+6.8 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
18.2 min
21.9 min
+3.7 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
1,557.1
+326% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
1,235.5
4,722.1
+282% in Kansas City, MO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.2°F
56.7°F
+12.5°F in Kansas City, MO
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
39.1 in
+28.7 in in Kansas City, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
16.2
+13% in Kansas City, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$28.78
+154% in Kansas City, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
4.70%
+0.6 pp in ID

Idaho Falls vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Kansas City?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Kansas City, MO's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Kansas City?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).