Shelley, ID vs Spirit Lake, ID

Shelley is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Shelley scores 90 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 Shelley is $1,212/month compared to $1,003/month in Spirit Lake — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Spirit Lake has cheaper rent, Shelley actually has lower median home values ($267,200 vs $380,800).

Median household income in Shelley is $63,864 compared to $60,938 in Spirit Lake (+4.8%). Shelley offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Shelley spend roughly 22.8% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Spirit Lake.