C+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Groceries NAT. AVG.
43%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index Hayden Idaho National
Cost of living11398100
Groceries101102100
Health care102101100
Housing14390100
Transportation98103100
Utilities98101100
Lifestyle & Entertainment106105100
Household Items98101100
Education & Childcare100101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Hayden, ID

The cost of living in Hayden affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Hayden is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Hayden, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 42.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Hayden Affordable?

Is Hayden an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hayden, the median home price is 54.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 16.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Hayden come in at $85,828, which is 5.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hayden?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Hayden, healthcare costs are 2.3% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Hayden, the groceries index is 1.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Hayden cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hayden is 15% higher than the Idaho average
  • The cost of living in Hayden is 13% higher than the national average
  • Hayden housing is 43% higher than the national average
  • Idaho general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Idaho state income tax is 123% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hayden

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Compare Hayden, ID Cost of Living

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      Utilities index
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      Educare index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$98,503$8,209$2,298$2,955
      Renters$62,939$5,245$1,468$1,888
      The affordability of the housing market in Hayden, ID as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Hayden homeowners, the median income is $98,503. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,298 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $62,939. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,468 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Idaho Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Idaho 6% 8.5%

      Idaho Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Idaho 5.8% 5.8%

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      State Line, ID141022.5%
      Athol, ID721964.0%
      Spirit Lake, ID2,4971022.1%
      Huetter, ID1951033.3%
      Hauser, ID9601098.7%
      Hayden, ID15,46911313.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Eden, NC15,4558811.6%
      New Cassel, NY15,48714039.7%
      Lockhart, FL15,4921065.8%
      Laurinburg, NC15,4448911.2%
      North Fair Oaks, CA15,443221120.9%
      Hayden, ID15,46911313.2%
      Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.