Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Paterson?

Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $47,000 in Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Paterson?

Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Idaho Falls vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 23% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$818

$786

+4% in Idaho Falls, ID

1 Bedroom

$827

$1,183

+43% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$957

$1,468

+53% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,278

$1,729

+35% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$298,600

$335,400

+12% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$69,630

$53,766

+23% in Idaho Falls, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,800

$61,430

+31% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.5 yr

33.3 yr

+0.2 yr in Idaho Falls, ID

Homeownership

64.1%

26.2%

+37.9 pp in Idaho Falls, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.0%

12.5%

+18.5 pp in Idaho Falls, ID

Avg Commute

18.2 min

23.1 min

+4.9 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

365.3

1,010.1

+177% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

1,235.5

2,391.4

+94% in Paterson, NJ

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 Paterson, NJ

Annual Precipitation

10.4 in

49.0 in

+38.7 in in Paterson, NJ

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

24.9

+74% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$17.68

+56% in Paterson, NJ

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Idaho Falls, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Paterson, NJ

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 / NJ)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

10.75%

+5.5 pp in NJ

Idaho Falls vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Paterson?: Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Paterson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Paterson?: Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).