Salary Needed to Live in Idaho Falls as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $52,590/year to live comfortably in Idaho Falls, ID, including 10% savings.

Direct Answer

A single person needs about $52,590/year to live comfortably in Idaho Falls, ID. The bare-minimum salary is $45,386/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $3,116.

The minimum scenario leaves about $2,761/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $4,383/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$52,590
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$45,386
$3,782/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$2,761
22% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Idaho Falls

ExpenseIdaho FallsNat'l AvgDiff
Studio/1BR Rent$753$1,351-44%
Groceries$259$207+25%
Utilities$139$169-18%
Transportation$200$316-37%
Car Insurance$168$215-22%
Health Insurance$660$642+3%
Internet$59$65-9%
Phone$77$85-9%
Dining & Social$270$300-10%
Entertainment$108$120-10%
Personal Care$68$75-9%
Total Monthly$2,761$3,545-22%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$2,761
Target savings (10%):$355/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$3,116
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$52,590

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$753

Studio/1BR rent is 27% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
27%

Estimated federal plus ID state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
10%

$355/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
90/100

Idaho Falls is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities

Yakima, WA
$50,152/yr
$2,438 less than Idaho Falls
Great Falls, MT
$46,933/yr
$5,657 less than Idaho Falls
Pueblo, CO
$51,143/yr
$1,447 less than Idaho Falls
Pocatello, ID
$49,048/yr
$3,542 less than Idaho Falls

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep studio/1br housing near $753/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $582/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
  3. Use $45,386/year as the survival floor and $52,590/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Idaho Falls

Couple (No Kids)
$68,144/yr
$3,464/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$115,717/yr
$5,593/mo expenses
Retiree
$50,241/yr
$2,847/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in Idaho FallsCity OverviewRent in Idaho FallsMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Idaho Falls?
A single person needs approximately $52,590/year ($4,383/month gross) to live comfortably in Idaho Falls with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Idaho Falls?
A studio/1br in Idaho Falls costs approximately $753/month, which is the largest single expense at 27% of the total budget.
Is Idaho Falls affordable for a single person?
Yes, Idaho Falls is 22% more affordable than the national average for a single person.
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