| Index | Mountain Home | Idaho | National |
| Cost of living | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 107 | 101 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Mountain Home is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Mountain Home is 99, which is 1% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
The cost of living in Mountain Home closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Mountain Home can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 11 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Mountain Home. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 18% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 82% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Mountain Home affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Mountain Home, for instance, where the median home price falls 13.6% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 14.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Mountain Home flaunting a median household income of $66,369, 18.4% lower than the national norm.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Mountain Home, healthcare costs are 3.1% higher than the national average.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Mountain Home, the housing index stands at 13.8% lower 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.
The Mountain Home 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 index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $86,456 | $7,205 | $2,017 | $2,594 |
| Renters | $55,993 | $4,666 | $1,306 | $1,680 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Idaho | 6% | 8.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Idaho | 5.8% | 5.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mountain Home AFB, ID | 3,238 | 108 | 8.2% |
| Mountain Home, ID | 14,826 | 99 | 1.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Piney Green, NC | 14,825 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,823 | 291 | 190.9% |
| Morris, IL | 14,819 | 101 | 1.5% |
| Midlothian, IL | 14,817 | 99 | 1.4% |
| Fraser, MI | 14,815 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Mountain Home, ID | 14,826 | 99 | 1.4% |
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