Idaho vs Washington: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Idaho or Washington?
- Overall, Washington is 12.1% more expensive than Idaho (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Idaho works out to about $84,000 in Washington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 39.9% more in Washington. Goods are 8.4% higher and other services 4.9% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 31.8% higher in Washington.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $64,421 in Washington and $52,816 in Idaho (22.0% higher in Washington; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.5 in Yakima, WA to 111.1 in Seattle, WA (Washington) and from 88.9 in Pocatello, ID to 98.4 in Boise, ID (Idaho), US = 100.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Washington was 16.8% more expensive than Idaho.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 39.9% higher in Washington than in Idaho
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 107.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 104.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 90.0 | 126.0 |
| Utilities | 70.4 | 92.9 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 103.9 |
| Category | Idaho | Washington | Washington vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 107.0 | +12.1% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 104.4 | +8.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 90.0 | 126.0 | +39.9% |
| Utilities | 70.4 | 92.9 | +31.8% |
| Other services | 99.0 | 103.9 | +4.9% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $52,816 | $64,421 | +22.0% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.47 | $5.33 | +19.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Idaho | $75,000 | $84,000 | +12.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Rocky Mountain region average (EIA has no separate Idaho figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Idaho
- Pocatello, ID 88.9
- Lewiston, ID 91.2
- Twin Falls, ID 92.1
- Idaho Falls, ID 94.4
- Logan, UT 95.9
- Coeur d'Alene, ID 98.3
- Boise, ID 98.4
Washington
- Lewiston, ID 91.2
- Yakima, WA 95.5
- Longview, WA 97.5
- Walla Walla, WA 98.5
- Kennewick, WA 100.1
- Spokane, WA 100.3
- Mount Vernon, WA 102.4
- Bellingham, WA 103.3
- Olympia, WA 103.7
- Wenatchee, WA 103.9
- Portland, OR 105.4
- Bremerton, WA 105.6
- Seattle, WA 111.1
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Idaho and Washington has widened since 2008: 9.5 points then, 11.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.0 | 104.5 |
| 2009 | 94.8 | 104.6 |
| 2010 | 93.2 | 102.7 |
| 2011 | 94.1 | 103.2 |
| 2012 | 93.5 | 102.5 |
| 2013 | 93.7 | 102.5 |
| 2014 | 93.7 | 103.9 |
| 2015 | 94.3 | 104.4 |
| 2016 | 93.0 | 105.6 |
| 2017 | 94.5 | 107.0 |
| 2018 | 91.7 | 107.1 |
| 2019 | 92.4 | 108.0 |
| 2020 | 91.0 | 107.9 |
| 2021 | 91.6 | 108.8 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 110.0 |
| 2023 | 92.2 | 108.4 |
| 2024 | 95.5 | 107.0 |
Goods
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 104.4 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 104.8 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 103.1 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 103.7 |
| 2012 | 98.1 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 96.3 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 97.2 | 102.2 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 103.6 |
| 2016 | 99.6 | 102.7 |
| 2017 | 101.1 | 105.9 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 105.0 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 106.4 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 108.9 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 112.0 |
| 2022 | 96.1 | 113.5 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 106.9 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 104.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.4 | 117.4 |
| 2009 | 79.0 | 116.8 |
| 2010 | 75.8 | 114.3 |
| 2011 | 74.7 | 116.3 |
| 2012 | 75.3 | 113.9 |
| 2013 | 78.7 | 115.0 |
| 2014 | 76.9 | 117.9 |
| 2015 | 74.2 | 119.6 |
| 2016 | 73.8 | 123.1 |
| 2017 | 74.1 | 125.5 |
| 2018 | 77.5 | 128.1 |
| 2019 | 75.7 | 129.5 |
| 2020 | 76.3 | 126.1 |
| 2021 | 84.2 | 125.6 |
| 2022 | 87.7 | 127.6 |
| 2023 | 86.9 | 125.5 |
| 2024 | 90.0 | 126.0 |
Utilities
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66.4 | 79.7 |
| 2009 | 72.2 | 81.9 |
| 2010 | 76.1 | 84.6 |
| 2011 | 76.6 | 87.3 |
| 2012 | 79.8 | 89.9 |
| 2013 | 81.0 | 92.1 |
| 2014 | 82.3 | 90.4 |
| 2015 | 83.5 | 95.3 |
| 2016 | 84.5 | 93.6 |
| 2017 | 79.7 | 92.7 |
| 2018 | 73.9 | 94.5 |
| 2019 | 74.7 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 75.2 | 97.2 |
| 2021 | 68.4 | 92.2 |
| 2022 | 66.3 | 85.7 |
| 2023 | 68.1 | 84.0 |
| 2024 | 70.4 | 92.9 |
Other services
- Idaho
- Washington
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.5 | 102.4 |
| 2009 | 100.1 | 102.4 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 100.2 |
| 2012 | 99.3 | 101.4 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 101.8 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 101.3 |
| 2016 | 97.0 | 103.1 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 103.5 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 103.6 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 102.1 |
| 2021 | 92.0 | 103.0 |
| 2022 | 91.9 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 93.3 | 105.6 |
| 2024 | 99.0 | 103.9 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $64,421 in Washington, $52,816 in Idaho
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Idaho
- Washington
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Idaho | Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $38,641 | $47,369 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $37,042 | $44,854 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $37,925 | $45,578 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $38,348 | $46,278 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $39,447 | $48,605 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $39,836 | $48,400 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $40,832 | $49,860 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $42,381 | $51,679 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $43,476 | $52,446 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $43,689 | $53,192 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $46,299 | $54,837 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $48,040 | $56,862 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $52,336 | $60,102 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $55,840 | $62,496 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $53,576 | $59,601 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $53,302 | $62,138 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $52,816 | $64,421 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Idaho
- Cost of living in Washington
- Reverse: moving from Washington to Idaho
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.