Smelterville, ID vs Spirit Lake, ID

The cost of living difference between Smelterville, ID and Spirit Lake, ID is dramatic. Smelterville is 30% cheaper than Spirit Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Smelterville has a cost index of 67 while Spirit Lake sits at 96, 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 Smelterville is $825/month compared to $1,003/month in Spirit Lake — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Smelterville is more affordable at $117,600 median vs $380,800.

Median household income in Smelterville is $46,597 compared to $60,938 in Spirit Lake (-23.5%). The higher salaries in Spirit Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Smelterville spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Spirit Lake.