Hayden, ID vs Mountain Home, ID

The cost of living difference between Hayden, ID and Mountain Home, ID is dramatic. Mountain Home is 39.1% cheaper than Hayden, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Hayden has a cost index of 122 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 Hayden is $1,676/month compared to $1,061/month in Mountain Home — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mountain Home is more affordable at $270,700 median vs $445,700.

Median household income in Hayden is $77,534 compared to $58,486 in Mountain Home (+32.6%). The higher salaries in Hayden partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Hayden spend roughly 25.9% of their income on rent, more than the 21.8% in Mountain Home.