Hailey, ID vs Shelley, ID

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Shelley is 28% cheaper than Hailey. With a cost index of 90 vs 116, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Shelley to Hailey should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Hailey is $1,196/month compared to $1,212/month in Shelley — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hailey has cheaper rent, Shelley actually has lower median home values ($267,200 vs $574,500).

Median household income in Hailey is $83,084 compared to $63,864 in Shelley (+30.1%). 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 22.8% in Shelley.