Washington vs Idaho
In $100,000 in Washington
$93,458
The same income in Idaho
$104,712
$100,000 has $11,254 more purchasing power in Idaho.
Figures are in national-average dollars: what the income buys once each state's prices are accounted for (US = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, released February 19, 2026. How it's calculated
Salary needed in Idaho
$89,252
to match $100,000 in Washington, before tax.
We compare it with your current income after local prices.
Enter an offer greater than zero, or leave this field blank.
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Where the difference comes fromPrice components
Where the difference comes from
Price level by component, 100 = US average. The Difference column compares the destination price level with the origin; higher means the destination is more expensive.
| Component | Washington | Idaho | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.0 | 95.5 | −10.7% |
| Housing rents | 126.0 | 90.0 | −28.6% |
| Goods | 104.4 | 96.3 | −7.8% |
| Utilities | 92.9 | 70.4 | −24.2% |
| Other services | 103.9 | 99.0 | −4.7% |
BEA Regional Price Parities · SARPP · 2024 · rel. February 19, 2026 · Official data
Housing reality checkRent, homes & property tax
Housing reality check
ACS median gross rent, home value, and real estate taxes paid — statewide context beyond the index.
US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates · ACS5 · 2024 · rel. December 2025 · Official data
Tax at a glanceIncome & sales tax
Tax at a glance
Hand-curated, tax year 2026 · verified 2026-07-20
Top marginal and average combined rates do not estimate a household's total tax liability.
| Tax | Washington | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax (top rate) | None | 5.30% |
| Sales tax (combined avg) | 9.51% | 6.03% |
Tax Foundation (income & sales) · Tax · 2026 · rel. tax year 2026 · Manually maintained · verified 2026-07-20
Who comes out ahead in Idaho?
The answer depends on your situation. Each card compares statewide medians for one situation; the state named is the one the numbers favor.
An unchanged income buys about 12% more in Idaho than in Washington. On $100,000 that is $11,254 of national-average purchasing power a year.
Median gross rent is $1,760 in Washington and $1,238 in Idaho, $522 a month ($6,264 a year) less in Idaho. Renters spend a median 30.0% and 28.7% of income on rent.
The median home is worth $564,600 in Washington (5.8× median household income) and $418,600 in Idaho (5.4×). Median property taxes equal 0.81% and 0.49% of the median home value.
Median household income is $98,141 in Washington and $77,800 in Idaho. After adjusting for prices, that is $91,721 and $81,466: local pay goes further in Washington.
Unemployment is 5.0% in Washington and 3.6% in Idaho (July 2026). Idaho has the tighter labor market by 1.4 points. Pay for specific jobs is compared below.
Washington and Idaho head to head
Statewide figures the calculator above does not show. “Edge” (bold on small screens) marks the state with the lower cost or higher income on that row; rows without a clear better direction are left blank.
| Measure | Washington | Idaho | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||
| Median household income | $98,141 | $77,800 | Washington |
| Adjusted for local prices | $91,721 | $81,466 | Washington |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownership rate | 63.8% | 72.1% | |
| Rent as % of renter income | 30.0% | 28.7% | Idaho |
| Owner costs as % of income | 18.8% | 16.6% | Idaho |
| Home value ÷ household income | 5.8× | 5.4× | Idaho |
| Home price change, 2020–2025 · FHFA index | +42.8% | +52.1% | |
| Taxes | |||
| Top income tax rate | None on wages | 5.30% (flat) | Washington |
| Combined sales tax (avg) | 9.51% | 6.03% | Idaho |
| Median property tax paid | $4,556 | $2,038 | Idaho |
| Property tax ÷ home value | 0.81% | 0.49% | Idaho |
| Jobs | |||
| Unemployment (July 2026) | 5.0% | 3.6% | Idaho |
| Minimum wage | $17.13/hr | $7.25/hr | |
| Everyday costs | |||
| Median rent, 2 bedrooms | $1,756/mo | $1,163/mo | Idaho |
| Average electric bill (2024) | $114/mo | $109/mo | Idaho |
| Electricity price | 11.9¢/kWh | 11.5¢/kWh | Idaho |
| Health care spending per person (2025) | $10,437 | $8,600 | |
| All consumer spending per person (2025) | $65,667 | $49,627 | |
| People | |||
| Population change since July 2020 | +3.5% | +9.8% | |
| Net moves from other states | −24,858 | +130,972 | |
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.3 | |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 39.6% | 31.8% | |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 9.1% | Washington |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 21.6 min | Idaho |
| Crime (2025, per 100,000 residents) | |||
| Violent crime | 283.9 | 217.3 | Idaho |
| Property crime | 1,974.8 | 605 | Idaho |
| Murder | 2.9 | 2.1 | Idaho |
| Climate (1991–2020 averages) | |||
| Average temperature | 47.3°F | 43.9°F | |
| July average high | 78.7°F | 82.3°F | |
| January average low | 26.3°F | 17.1°F | |
| Precipitation | 43.2 in | 23.7 in | |
Sources: Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates, FHFA house price index via FRED, BLS LAUS, Tax Foundation 2026, US DOL minimum wage, EIA, BEA consumer spending, Census population estimates, FBI crime estimates, and NOAA statewide climate. Median property tax covers owner-occupied homes. Spending is in current dollars and reflects both prices and incomes.
Who is moving between Washington and Idaho
In 2024, about 17,837 people living in Idaho had lived in Washington a year earlier, and about 7,927 made the opposite move. On net, Idaho gained about 9,910 residents from Washington that year.
Census State-to-State Migration Flows (ACS 1-year, 2024). ± values are 90% margins of error. Washington and Idaho profiles list each state's largest sources and destinations. What the biggest moves trade →
Salary in Idaho that matches your Washington pay
Pre-tax salary needed in Idaho to keep the same purchasing power, using the all-items price levels (107.0 and 95.5).
| Salary in Washington | Equivalent in Idaho | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,701 | −$4,299 |
| $60,000 | $53,551 | −$6,449 |
| $80,000 | $71,402 | −$8,598 |
| $100,000 | $89,252 | −$10,748 |
| $150,000 | $133,879 | −$16,121 |
| $200,000 | $178,505 | −$21,495 |
What the same job pays in Washington and Idaho
BLS median annual wages (May 2025), then the same wages adjusted for each state's price level. The last column names the state where the job's median pay buys more.
| Occupation | Washington | Idaho | WA adjusted | ID adjusted | Goes further in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $124,200 | $92,460 | $116,075 | $96,817 | Washington |
| Software Developers | $166,540 | $131,590 | $155,645 | $137,791 | Washington |
| Elementary School Teachers | $102,350 | $61,600 | $95,654 | $64,503 | Washington |
| Electricians | $95,220 | $63,000 | $88,991 | $65,969 | Washington |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $58,770 | $60,523 | $61,539 | Idaho |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,550 | $74,730 | $90,234 | $78,251 | Washington |
| Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $102,080 | $66,990 | $95,402 | $70,147 | Washington |
| Pharmacists | $160,610 | $144,900 | $150,103 | $151,728 | Idaho |
| Dental Hygienists | $131,160 | $94,650 | $122,579 | $99,110 | Washington |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers | $63,020 | $50,530 | $58,897 | $52,911 | Washington |
Prices inside each state
A statewide price level averages cities and rural areas. The BEA also publishes price levels for metro areas; here is the range in each state.
Washington
- Lowest Lewiston, ID-WA 91.2
- Highest Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 111.1
- Metro areas 13
Idaho
- Lowest Pocatello, ID 88.9
- Highest Boise City, ID 98.4
- Metro areas 7
Washington vs Idaho: the read
The bottom line
Compare a $100,000 income in Washington and Idaho: its purchasing power is $93,458 and $104,712, respectively, in national-average terms — a gain of $11,254. Idaho is the cheaper of the two, running at 95.5 on the price index versus 107.
Where the difference comes from
The widest gap on the index is housing rents: Washington sits at 126 and Idaho at 90 (100 = national), and Idaho has the edge there. Rent is also the largest item in most household budgets, so this gap does the most to separate the two states' overall price levels.
Housing
Median rent runs $1,760 in Washington against $1,238 in Idaho, and the typical home $564,600 versus $418,600. Idaho is the more affordable place to buy.
Taxes
On tax, Washington has no wage income tax and a combined sales tax of 9.51%; Idaho has 5.30% top income tax and 6.03%. Those headline rates are useful screening facts, but they do not calculate either household's total liability.
Full profiles: Washington · Idaho. Every figure here is sourced on the pages linked above.
Washington vs Idaho: common questions
Is it cheaper to live in Washington or Idaho?
Idaho is cheaper overall. Its price level is 95.5 against 107.0 in Washington (US = 100), so the same basket of goods and services costs about 10.7% less there. The difference is usually largest for rent.
What salary in Idaho matches $100,000 in Washington?
About $89,252, before tax. That is $100,000 × 95.5 ÷ 107.0. Income tax, your actual rent or mortgage, and commuting costs can all shift the break-even point.
Which state has lower taxes, Washington or Idaho?
Washington has no tax on wage income and an average combined sales tax of 9.51%. Idaho has a flat income tax with a top rate of 5.30% and 6.03%. Median real estate taxes paid by owners are $4,556 and $2,038 a year. Which state costs a household less depends on its income, spending, and whether it owns a home.
Do people earn more in Washington or Idaho?
Median household income is $98,141 in Washington and $77,800 in Idaho. Adjusted for prices, that is $91,721 and $81,466 in national-average dollars, so households in Washington have more purchasing power at the median.
Are more people moving from Washington to Idaho or the other way?
In 2024, about 17,837 people moved from Washington to Idaho and about 7,927 moved from Idaho to Washington, according to Census state-to-state migration estimates. That is a net gain of about 9,910 for Idaho.
Comparing a different pair? Use the full tool →