| Index | Star | Idaho | National |
| Cost of living | 116 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Health care | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 146 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Household Items | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Star can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Star cost of living index is 116, which is 16% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Star, 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 45.8% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Is Star affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Star, the median home price is 69.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 8.6% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Star boasting a median household income of $105,467, 29.7% higher than the national average.
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 Star, healthcare costs are 4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Star, the groceries index registers 0.7% higher than the national average.
The Star 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.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $120,001 | $10,000 | $2,800 | $3,600 |
| Renters | $79,116 | $6,593 | $1,846 | $2,374 |
| 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. |
| Notus, ID | 614 | 90 | 9.5% |
| Emmett, ID | 7,108 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Caldwell, ID | 58,211 | 99 | 0.7% |
| Nampa, ID | 100,694 | 104 | 4.1% |
| Middleton, ID | 8,196 | 103 | 2.5% |
| Star, ID | 10,093 | 116 | 16.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Aiea, HI | 10,094 | 207 | 107.5% |
| Burlington, NJ | 10,094 | 99 | 1.5% |
| Woodbury, NJ | 10,086 | 106 | 6.2% |
| Felida, WA | 10,100 | 150 | 49.8% |
| Eunice, LA | 10,106 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Star, ID | 10,093 | 116 | 16.5% |
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