Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 43% higher in Seattle, WA. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$818
$1,638
+100% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,858
+125% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$957
$2,359
+146% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$2,918
+128% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$912,100
+205% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$121,984
+75% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$72,610
+55% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.5 yr
+2.0 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
64.1%
44.2%
+19.9 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
67.5%
+36.5 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
26.6 min
+8.4 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
788.6
+116% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,235.5
5,108.8
+314% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+9.3°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
37.7 in
+27.3 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.41/gal
+27% in Seattle, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
14.9
+4% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$21.34
+88% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Idaho Falls vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Seattle?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Seattle?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).