Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 23% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$818
$1,159
+42% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,275
+54% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,473
+54% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,636
+28% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$249,000
+17% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$53,771
+23% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$60,060
+28% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
31.9 yr
+1.6 yr in Idaho Falls, ID
Homeownership
64.1%
28.4%
+35.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
37.7%
+6.7 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
18.2 min
21.0 min
+2.8 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
536.3
+47% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
1,235.5
3,601.6
+192% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+8.0°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
47.1 in
+36.7 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
24.3
+69% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$23.33
+106% in New Haven, CT

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
$1.92
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

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

Idaho Falls vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or New Haven?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or New Haven?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).