Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Minneapolis?

Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Minneapolis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.

Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Minneapolis?

Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Idaho Falls vs Minneapolis Cost of Living 2026

Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 13% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID

Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio

$818

$992

+21% in Minneapolis, MN

1 Bedroom

$827

$1,192

+44% in Minneapolis, MN

2 Bedroom

$957

$1,555

+62% in Minneapolis, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,278

$1,761

+38% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$298,600

$345,600

+16% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$69,630

$80,269

+15% in Minneapolis, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,800

$59,320

+27% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.5 yr

33.0 yr

+0.5 yr in Idaho Falls, ID

Homeownership

64.1%

48.0%

+16.1 pp in Idaho Falls, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.0%

54.5%

+23.5 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Avg Commute

18.2 min

22.5 min

+4.3 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

365.3

1,168.5

+220% in Minneapolis, MN

Property Crime

1,235.5

5,183.1

+320% in Minneapolis, MN

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

47.4°F

+3.2°F in Minneapolis, MN

Annual Precipitation

10.4 in

32.8 in

+22.4 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.96/gal

+7% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

17.5

+22% in Minneapolis, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$14.79

+31% in Minneapolis, MN

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 Minneapolis, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Minneapolis, MN

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 / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

9.85%

+4.5 pp in MN

Idaho Falls vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Minneapolis?: Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Minneapolis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Minneapolis?: Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).