Idaho’s 7 Cities with the Most Expensive Monthly Bills in 2024 Revealed
This article originally appeared on Kido Talk Radio
It’s no secret that living in Idaho, especially in the Boise area, is no longer as affordable as it once was. But all things considered? Idaho’s still one of the more affordable places to live.
We don’t know about you, but there was a point somewhere in the last 10 years when we realized that our paychecks didn’t go quite as far as they used to. When we moved to Boise in 2006, rent for a nice one bedroom, one bathroom apartment behind where Chick-Fil-A is today was $625. Today that same unit is renting for $1250-$1300. Sure, they made some minor improvements like replacing carpet with laminate and installing new appliances but the countertops and cabinetry are still pretty dated. Realizing that apartment now costs DOUBLE what it did is like a punch in the gut.
Doxo Insights is a resource that provides an extremely detailed analysis of how much Americans are spending on monthly bills like the mortgage, rent, auto loans, car insurance, cell phones, health insurance, cable/satellite providers and home security. According to their figures, Idahoans have it pretty good. Even though we’re feeling the pain of the housing market, Idahoans are paying about $1,178 less in monthly bills than the national average.
Idaho ranks #28 on the list of most expensive states to live in. On average $2,028 of Idahoans’ monthly paychecks are basically spent before they even hit your bank account.
Doxo does a similar breakout for 23 cities in Idaho and what shocked us is the fact that Boise was the #19 on the list of the most expensive cities for household expenses in Idaho. On average, Boise residents spend $1982 a month on bills. That’s $1,728 or 6.8% lower than the national average.
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Other parts of the Treasure Valley didn’t do quite as well and are paying a significant amount higher than the national average. Which cities are paying the MOST in monthly bills? Here’s how things shook out.
Idaho’s 7 Cities with the Most Expensive Monthly Bills in 2024 Revealed
Doxo Insights provides an extremely comprehensive analysis of how much Americans are spending on monthly bills. Based on their research, these seven Idaho cities are paying more in bills than anywhere else in the state.
#7 Middleton
Middleton didn’t get a deep dive from Doxo, but they do estimate that Middleton residents pay about $2,212 per month or $26,544 per year.
#6 McCall
McCall’s too tiny for Doxo to break down monthly expenditures, but they say folks in McCall will spend about $2,213 per month or $26,556 per year on bills.
#5 Kuna
Somehow Kuna ending up at #5 is Arby’s fault, right? Just kidding. Doxo estimates that Kuna residents will spend $2,296 per month or $27,552 per year on household bills. That’s 8% higher than the national average and about 32% of someone’s income in Kuna goes right to bills. Here’s a look at those expenses:
Mortgage: $1,428/month
Auto Loans: $491/month
Utilities: $330/month
Car Insurance: $254/month
Health Insurance: $115/month
Cell Phone: $120/month
Cable and Internet: $94/month
Alarm and Security Service: $67/month
#4 Meridian
Meridian might be Idaho’s second largest city, but it ranks lower on the list of cities spending the most on monthly bills. Doxo estimates that Meridian residents will spend about $2,348 per year month or $28,176 per year on bills. That’s 10.4% higher than the national average. Where’s that money going?
Mortgage: $1,549/month
Auto Loans: $374/month
Utilities: $330/month
Car Insurance: $405/month
Health Insurance: $100/month
Cell Phone: $84/month
Cable and Internet: $95/month
Alarm and Security Service: $67/month
#3 Star
While Star is growing at a rapid rate, it’s apparently too small for Doxo to give a breakdown of monthly expenditures. They do estimate that Star residents spend about $2,353 a month on bills. Over the course of a year, that adds up to $28,236.
#2 Hailey
Doxo didn’t give a detailed breakdown for Hailey, but estimates that residents pay about $2,372 in monthly bills. That’s about $28,464 annually.
#1 Eagle
Eagle pays more in monthly bills than any other city in Idaho. Doxo estimates that Eagle residents pay $2,453 per month or $29,436 per year on bills. About 26% of their annual household income goes straight to bills. Household expenses in Eagle are about 15.4% higher than the national average. So what do monthly bills in Eagle look like?
Mortgage: $1,963/month
Auto Loans: $381/month
Utilities: $319/month
Car Insurance: $254/month
Health Insurance: $115/month
Cell Phone: $135/month
Cable and Internet: $205/month