Buhl, ID vs Spirit Lake, ID

Buhl is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Buhl scores 85 compared to 96 for Spirit Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spirit Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buhl is $1,265/month compared to $1,003/month in Spirit Lake — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Spirit Lake has cheaper rent, Buhl actually has lower median home values ($192,600 vs $380,800).

Median household income in Buhl is $46,217 compared to $60,938 in Spirit Lake (-24.2%). While Spirit Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buhl spend roughly 32.8% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Spirit Lake. The Spirit Lake ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.