Idaho Falls, ID vs El Centro, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

El Centro, CA has a modeled overall cost index 20.7% higher than Idaho Falls, ID.

Idaho Falls, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,220 / month
El Centro, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,350 / 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 Idaho Falls, ID and El Centro, CA 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 Idaho Falls, ID

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,473/month in El Centro, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,681 in El Centro, CA

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

Overall Cost

↑ 20.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,473

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$17.7K

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.

Idaho Falls, ID

Population:68K

Cost Index:

93.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$403K

El Centro, CA

Population:44K

Cost Index:

113.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$374K

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Idaho Falls, ID

The Gem State

68K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Idaho, this city has a population of 68K residents.

El Centro, CA

The Golden State

44K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Idaho Falls, ID vs El Centro, CA

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	Idaho Falls, ID	El Centro, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,511/mo	$3,899/mo	↑ $1,389more	55.3%
All Utilities	$483/mo	$594/mo	↑ $110more	22.9%
Other	$1,656/mo	$1,569/mo	↓ $87.29less	5.3%
Transportation	$1,237/mo	$1,303/mo	↑ $66.19more	5.4%
Healthcare	$640/mo	$598/mo	↓ $42.51less	6.6%
Groceries	$973/mo	$1,011/mo	↑ $37.80more	3.9%

Housing

↑ 55.3%

Idaho Falls, ID

$2,511

El Centro, CA

$3,899

Difference

$1,389

All Utilities

↑ 22.9%

Idaho Falls, ID

$483

El Centro, CA

$594

Difference

$110

Other

↓ 5.3%

Idaho Falls, ID

$1,656

El Centro, CA

$1,569

Difference

$87.29

less

Transportation

↑ 5.4%

Idaho Falls, ID

$1,237

El Centro, CA

$1,303

Difference

$66.19

Healthcare

↓ 6.6%

Idaho Falls, ID

$640

El Centro, CA

$598

Difference

$42.51

less

Groceries

↑ 3.9%

Idaho Falls, ID

$973

El Centro, CA

$1,011

Difference

$37.80

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$970

To$930

↓ $40.00

1 Bed

From$1,020

To$1,030

↑ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,220

To$1,350

↑ $130

3 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,830

↑ $130

Idaho Falls, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$1,260/mo

El Centro, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/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 Idaho Falls, ID

$8,973

Monthly in El Centro, CA

$1,473

Difference

Home Values

Idaho Falls

El Centro

$403K

Median Value

$374K

↑ +0.4%

YoY Change

↑ +7.7%

↑ +32.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.9%

$356K - $419K

Price Range

$374K

Homes in El Centro are 7% less expensive than Idaho Falls

Calculate payment - Idaho Falls Calculate payment - El Centro

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $5.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$468

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.7%

Rate difference

Idaho Falls, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Idaho Falls, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

El Centro, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Idaho Falls

El Centro

44 Good

Air Quality

71 Moderate

62.8%

Good Air Days

12.8%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

Before moving from Idaho Falls, ID to El Centro, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in El Centro, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Idaho Falls, ID. 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 Idaho Falls to El Centro moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to El Centro, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Idaho Falls, ID vs El Centro, CA

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

El Centro, CA has a modeled overall cost index 20.7% higher than Idaho Falls, ID. 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 Idaho Falls, ID, the model estimates $167,681 in El Centro, CA. 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 Idaho Falls, ID and El Centro, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,220/month in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,350/month in El Centro, CA. 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 Idaho and California on TaxTakeHome.com