Is Appleton cheaper than Idaho Falls?

They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Appleton and Idaho Falls metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.

Which has higher household income, Appleton or Idaho Falls?

Idaho Falls has the higher median household income — $85,767 versus $82,501 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 4% more.

Does a paycheck go further in Appleton or Idaho Falls?

It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($89,268 versus $90,843).

Which has cheaper rent, Appleton or Idaho Falls?

Appleton has cheaper rent — a median of $1,164/mo versus $1,257/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Appleton vs Idaho Falls

Metro-area medians — Appleton, WI Metro Area vs Idaho Falls, ID Metro Area — not the cities proper.

Appleton comes out ahead, winning 6 of the 7 clearly-decided measures.

Appleton and Idaho Falls cost about the same to live in, but Idaho Falls households earn about 4% more. Adjusted for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches about as far in either.

Their widest everyday difference: Appleton has the tighter job market — 2.1% unemployment versus 5%.

For your salary & household

Enter your pay and household size to see what it's really worth here — the numbers update live and the link stays shareable.

Annual salary (gross)

Household size

Appleton, WI

$58,454

take-home / yr · 22% to tax

$63,248

real value after local prices

Idaho Falls, ID

$58,173

take-home / yr · 22% to tax

$61,616

real value after local prices

On $75,000 for just you, Appleton leaves you about $1,632/yr better off after tax and local prices.

Take-home estimates a single filer taking the standard deduction (2025 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax) and isn't tax advice. “Real value” rebases take-home to average U.S. prices using the BEA cost-of-living index; the per-person figure uses the OECD square-root equivalence scale.

Measure

Appleton

Idaho Falls

Livability (CityLedger)

71/100

59/100

Cost of living (price level, US = 100)

92.4

94.4

Cost-adjusted income (pay's real value)

$89,268

$90,843

Median household income

$82,501

$85,767

Median rent

$1,164/mo

$1,257/mo

Median home value

$297,500

$410,400

Unemployment

2.1%

Bachelor's degree or higher

33.3%

34.2%

Average commute

19.9 min

21.2 min

Air quality (median AQI)

Avg temperature

46°F

44°F

Choose Appleton for

+ Livability (CityLedger)
+ Median rent
+ Median home value
+ Unemployment
+ Average commute
+ Air quality (median AQI)

Full Appleton profile →

Choose Idaho Falls for

+ Median household income

Full Idaho Falls profile →

More comparisons

Metros closest to Appleton and Idaho Falls on cost, income, size, and education.

Appleton vs Billings→Appleton vs Eau Claire→Appleton vs La Crosse→Idaho Falls vs Eau Claire→Idaho Falls vs Blacksburg→Idaho Falls vs Midland→

Appleton vs Idaho Falls — frequently asked

Is Appleton cheaper than Idaho Falls?: They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Appleton and Idaho Falls metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.
Which has higher household income, Appleton or Idaho Falls?: Idaho Falls has the higher median household income — $85,767 versus $82,501 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 4% more.
Does a paycheck go further in Appleton or Idaho Falls?: It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($89,268 versus $90,843).
Which has cheaper rent, Appleton or Idaho Falls?: Appleton has cheaper rent — a median of $1,164/mo versus $1,257/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).