Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/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 $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 5% higher in St. Paul, 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$818
$995
+22% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,126
+36% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,384
+45% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,662
+30% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$280,300
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$73,055
+5% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$59,320
+27% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
33.5 yr
about equal
Homeownership
64.1%
53.2%
+10.9 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
43.5%
+12.5 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.3 min
+4.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
619
+69% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,235.5
2,897.2
+134% in St. Paul, 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
47.1°F
+2.9°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
28.5 in
+18.1 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.96/gal
+7% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
17.5
+22% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$14.79
+31% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in St. Paul, 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%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
9.85%
+4.5 pp in MN

Idaho Falls vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or St. Paul?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or St. Paul?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).