Cost of Living in Idaho for a Family of Four (2026)
A family of four in Idaho needs about $7,386 a month ($88,629 a year) to cover a typical household budget before saving. That is 5% below the U.S. average of $7,777 and ranks #27 of 51, where #1 is the most expensive.
Idaho's rent level is 90% of the national average, so a typical three-bedroom rental with utilities runs about $1,827 a month, compared with $2,030 nationally. Everyday goods such as groceries and clothing cost 4% less than the national average, which puts this family's grocery bill at about $1,004 a month on the USDA low-cost food plan.
To cover this budget and still save 15% of take-home pay, a family would need about $8,689 a month after taxes ($104,270 a year).
Monthly budget in Idaho by household
The family is two parents aged 38 and 40 with children aged 9 and 4, the youngest in paid childcare, renting a three-bedroom home. The couple is two adults aged 35 and the single adult is 30, each renting a one-bedroom home.
| Category | Family of four | Couple | Single adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | $1,827 | $1,195 | $1,195 |
| Groceries | $1,004 | $628 | $343 |
| Dining out & takeout | $251 | $157 | $86 |
| Transportation | $1,183 | $1,183 | $592 |
| Health care | $693 | $455 | $228 |
| Childcare | $1,049 | $0 | $0 |
| Phone & internet | $155 | $155 | $115 |
| Clothing | $210 | $148 | $105 |
| Household & personal care | $243 | $172 | $122 |
| Entertainment & hobbies | $396 | $280 | $198 |
| Gifts, giving & other | $374 | $265 | $187 |
| Total per month | $7,386 | $4,638 | $3,169 |
| Total per year | $88,629 | $55,659 | $38,026 |
Estimates for 2026 from LifeCalculator's family budget model: BEA Regional Price Parities by state (2024, released February 2026), USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (August 2026, low-cost plan), BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024), Census median gross rent (2024) and Child Care Aware of America (2025). Figures from 2024 are adjusted by about 5% for price changes since. Savings and income taxes are not included.
What moves the number
- Childcare. Paid care for the 4-year-old adds about $1,049 a month. Without it, the family budget falls to about $6,337.
- Housing. The figure assumes renting at the state's typical level. Rents in big cities run well above the state average, and rural areas well below it.
- Cars. Transportation assumes typical costs for two drivers, including a car payment. Families with paid-off cars spend less.
- Price level. Overall, prices in Idaho are 5% below the national average (BEA all-items index 95.5).
States with similar costs
- Georgia: $7,431 a month (#24)
- Pennsylvania: $7,416 a month (#25)
- Vermont: $7,408 a month (#26)
- Maine: $7,256 a month (#28)
- Michigan: $7,252 a month (#29)
- Montana: $7,251 a month (#30)
See all 50 states and D.C. on the cost of living by state page, or read what it costs a family of four to live in every state.
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