Kootenai, ID vs St. Maries, ID

The cost of living difference between Kootenai, ID and St. Maries, ID is dramatic. St. Maries is 39.4% cheaper than Kootenai, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Kootenai has a cost index of 107 while St. Maries sits at 77, 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 Kootenai is $1,646/month compared to $859/month in St. Maries — a 92% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Maries is more affordable at $205,400 median vs $306,200.

Median household income in Kootenai is $69,457 compared to $52,468 in St. Maries (+32.4%). The higher salaries in Kootenai partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Kootenai spend roughly 28.4% of their income on rent, more than the 19.6% in St. Maries.