Lincoln, ID vs Spirit Lake, ID

Lincoln, ID and Spirit Lake, ID have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Lincoln scores 95 while Spirit Lake scores 96 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lincoln is $1,245/month compared to $1,003/month in Spirit Lake — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Spirit Lake has cheaper rent, Lincoln actually has lower median home values ($307,800 vs $380,800).

Median household income in Lincoln is $80,818 compared to $60,938 in Spirit Lake (+32.6%). Lincoln offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Lincoln spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Spirit Lake.