California to Idaho: Cost of Living Comparison
Moving from California to Idaho, the cost of living is about 13.7% cheaper. To keep the same standard of living you have on $100,000 in California, you'd need roughly $86,269 in Idaho — a cut of about $13,731.
| California | Idaho | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US avg = 100) | 110.7 | 95.5 |
| Salary to match $100,000 | $100,000 | $86,269 |
| Purchasing power of $100,000 | $100,000 | $115,916 |
Based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items). Idaho is at 95.5 vs California at 110.7 on the national-average scale of 100.
Want to try your own salary or a different pair of states? Use the interactive cost-of-living calculator →
How the California → Idaho comparison works
Cost of living differs from place to place because the same basket of goods, services and — above all — housing costs different amounts. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures this with Regional Price Parities (RPP): an index where the national average is 100. California sits at 110.7 and Idaho at 95.5, which means everyday spending in Idaho costs about 13.7% less than in California.
To keep the same standard of living you enjoy on $100,000 in California, you would need about $86,269 in Idaho. Looked at the other way, if you moved with the same $100,000 paycheck, its real purchasing power once you're paying Idaho prices would feel like $115,916.
Remember this is a statewide, all-items average. Your actual experience depends heavily on where exactly you live, whether you rent or own, and your lifestyle — and it doesn't account for the difference in income tax between the two states, which you can model separately in the take-home-pay tools below.
Equivalent salary at other income levels
| Your salary in California | Equivalent in Idaho | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,135 | −$6,865 |
| $75,000 | $64,702 | −$10,298 |
| $100,000 | $86,269 | −$13,731 |
| $150,000 | $129,404 | −$20,596 |
| $200,000 | $172,538 | −$27,462 |
See your take-home pay in each state
Cost of living is only half the picture — income tax changes what you actually keep. Compare paychecks:
Move from California to another state
⚠️ Cost-of-living estimate based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items, statewide average). Real costs vary by city, housing and lifestyle, and this does not include the difference in state income tax. For general guidance only — not financial advice.