El Centro, CA vs Rexburg, ID: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rexburg, ID has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% lower than El Centro, CA.

El Centro, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,350 / month
Rexburg, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,120 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare El Centro, CA and Rexburg, ID using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in El Centro, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,403/month in Rexburg, ID

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $133,166 in Rexburg, ID

Regional cost estimates: El Centro, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Rexburg, ID uses Boise, ID. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 19.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,403

Savings

Annual Impact

$16.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

El Centro, CA

Population:44K

Cost Index:

113.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$374K

Rexburg, ID

Population:40K

Cost Index:

90.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$406K

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El Centro, CA

The Golden State

44K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 44K residents.

Rexburg, ID

The Gem State

40K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Idaho, this city has a population of 40K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: El Centro, CA vs Rexburg, ID

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	El Centro, CA	Rexburg, ID	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,259/mo	$2,032/mo	↓ $1,227less	37.7%
All Utilities	$496/mo	$397/mo	↓ $98.79less	19.9%
Transportation	$1,089/mo	$1,001/mo	↓ $88.13less	8.1%
Groceries	$845/mo	$800/mo	↓ $44.60less	5.3%
Other	$1,311/mo	$1,340/mo	↑ $29.02more	2.2%
Healthcare	$500/mo	$526/mo	↑ $26.97more	5.4%

Housing

↓ 37.7%

El Centro, CA

$3,259

Rexburg, ID

$2,032

Difference

$1,227

less

All Utilities

↓ 19.9%

El Centro, CA

$496

Rexburg, ID

$397

Difference

$98.79

less

Transportation

↓ 8.1%

El Centro, CA

$1,089

Rexburg, ID

$1,001

Difference

$88.13

less

Groceries

↓ 5.3%

El Centro, CA

$845

Rexburg, ID

$800

Difference

$44.60

less

Other

↑ 2.2%

El Centro, CA

$1,311

Rexburg, ID

$1,340

Difference

$29.02

Healthcare

↑ 5.4%

El Centro, CA

$500

Rexburg, ID

$526

Difference

$26.97

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$930

To$980

↑ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,030

To$1,020

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,350

To$1,120

↓ $230

3 Bed

From$1,830

To$1,560

↓ $270

El Centro, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/mo

Rexburg, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,020–$1,020/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in El Centro, CA

$6,097

Monthly in Rexburg, ID

$1,403

Difference

Home Values

El Centro

Rexburg

$374K

Median Value

$406K

↑ +7.7%

YoY Change

↑ +5.9%

↑ +37.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +40.9%

Homes in Rexburg are 9% more expensive than El Centro

Calculate payment - El Centro Calculate payment - Rexburg

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $5.6K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$468

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.7%

Rate difference

El Centro, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Rexburg, ID

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Idaho State Tax

Effective: 10.8%

$16.2K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.5%

$53.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,062/month

$96.7K

Additional Tax Information

El Centro, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Rexburg, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

El Centro

Rexburg

71 Moderate

Air Quality

44 Good

12.8%

Good Air Days

62.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

88 Moderate

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥💨

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

Before moving from El Centro, CA to Rexburg, ID

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rexburg, ID for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in El Centro, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your El Centro to Rexburg moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Rexburg, ID by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: El Centro, CA vs Rexburg, ID

How do the cost estimates for El Centro, CA and Rexburg, ID compare?

Rexburg, ID has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% lower than El Centro, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in El Centro, CA, the model estimates $133,166 in Rexburg, ID. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for El Centro, CA and Rexburg, ID?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,350/month in El Centro, CA and $1,120/month in Rexburg, ID. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between California and Idaho on TaxTakeHome.com