Melba, ID vs Spirit Lake, ID

Melba is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Melba scores 88 compared to 96 for Spirit Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spirit Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Melba is $993/month compared to $1,003/month in Spirit Lake — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Melba is more affordable at $306,000 median vs $380,800.

Median household income in Melba is $53,500 compared to $60,938 in Spirit Lake (-12.2%). While Spirit Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Melba spend roughly 22.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Spirit Lake.