State relocation profile · Federal data
Idaho
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Idaho from federal sources.
- 95.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,173
- 2BR rent / mo
- $67,243
- Median salary
- 56.3
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Idaho ranks #14 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (56.3/100, C-), with its strongest marks in childcare and environment.
- #14 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 56.3
- Life Score · C-
- 95.5
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $67,243
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: wages (16/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Idaho ranks #14 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 95.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,173/mo, median salary $67,243; Life Score 56.3/100 (C-), strongest in childcare and environment.
Signature: Life Score 56.3/100 places Idaho #14 of 51 (top third of scored states).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 95.5 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,173/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $67,243.
Composite Life Score 56.3/100 (C-) puts Idaho in the top third (#14 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (6 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet ID · Idaho 56.3/100 · C- · #14 of 51
LIFE-CM · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-CHILDCARE · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-CM Life Score C-
- RANK-UPPER #14/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±1.0 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 95.5
- LEAD-CHILDCARE Lead · childcare
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Alabama (+ 1.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Idaho
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Idaho on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Idaho childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Idaho (infant $7,315/yr leads the book).
Idaho Life Score breakdown
Idaho composites to 56.3/100 (C-) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #14 of 51.
Idaho - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Childcare
Childcare
86 /100
- Environment
Environment
86 /100
- Schools
Schools
76 /100
- Safety
Safety
64 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
56 /100
- Rent
Rent
50 /100
- Wages 16
Wages
16 /100
What this shows Idaho's strongest dimensions are childcare and environment; its weakest among scored dims is wages at 16/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Idaho on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Idaho on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Idaho
Explore detailed relocation data for 6 metropolitan areas in Idaho. Idaho contains 6 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Boise City, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Boise City metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Idaho cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Idaho wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.