Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$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 Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 13% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$818
$1,126
+38% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,189
+44% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,394
+46% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,406
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$232,400
+22% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$60,698
+13% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$54,310
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.1 yr
+1.6 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
64.1%
52.3%
+11.8 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
34.6%
+3.6 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
32.0 min
+13.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
917.1
+151% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,235.5
4,615.3
+274% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+12.9°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
48.5 in
+38.1 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
21.7
+51% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$26.08
+130% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA
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 / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
3.07%
+2.2 pp in ID

Idaho Falls vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Philadelphia?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Philadelphia?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).