Preston, ID vs St. Maries, ID

Preston, ID and St. Maries, ID have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Preston scores 80 while St. Maries scores 77 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 Preston is $794/month compared to $859/month in St. Maries — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Preston has cheaper rent, St. Maries actually has lower median home values ($205,400 vs $280,500).

Median household income in Preston is $55,625 compared to $52,468 in St. Maries (+6%). While Preston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Preston spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.6% in St. Maries.