Hayden Lake, ID vs New Meadows, ID

The cost of living difference between Hayden Lake, ID and New Meadows, ID is dramatic. New Meadows is 84.9% cheaper than Hayden Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Hayden Lake has a cost index of 154 while New Meadows sits at 83, 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 Lake is $2,036/month compared to $933/month in New Meadows — a 118% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Meadows is more affordable at $275,000 median vs $706,900.

Median household income in Hayden Lake is $104,500 compared to $65,250 in New Meadows (+60.2%). The higher salaries in Hayden Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Hayden Lake spend roughly 23.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.2% in New Meadows.