Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 22% higher in Portland, OR. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$818
$1,294
+58% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,440
+74% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,741
+82% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$2,053
+61% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$557,600
+87% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$88,792
+28% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$60,690
+30% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
38.6 yr
+5.1 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
64.1%
52.8%
+11.3 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
53.5%
+22.5 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
24.6 min
+6.4 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
732.3
+100% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
1,235.5
5,609.4
+354% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+10.3°F in Portland, OR
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
42.9 in
+32.5 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.21/gal
+22% in Portland, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
16.3
+14% in Portland, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$21.60
+91% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / OR)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
9.90%
+4.6 pp in OR

Idaho Falls vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Portland?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Portland?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).