Hailey, ID vs Mountain Home, ID

The cost of living difference between Hailey, ID and Mountain Home, ID is dramatic. Mountain Home is 32.5% cheaper than Hailey, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Hailey has a cost index of 116 while Mountain Home sits at 87, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Hailey is $1,196/month compared to $1,061/month in Mountain Home — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mountain Home is more affordable at $270,700 median vs $574,500.

Median household income in Hailey is $83,084 compared to $58,486 in Mountain Home (+42.1%). While Hailey is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hailey spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 21.8% in Mountain Home.