Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Idaho vs Washington comes down to what you value. Idaho is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 17% lower than Washington, so the same paycheck stretches further. Washington ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#5 vs #12), balancing cost against quality of life. Idaho is strongest on economy and weakest on schools; Washington is strongest on economy and weakest on safety.
| Metric | Idaho | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 0.93 7% below average | 1.11 11% above average |
| Best Life Rank | #12 | #5 |
| Cost of living | #22 | #38 |
| Climate | #25 | #11 |
| Healthcare | #31 | #9 |
| Schools | #36 | #13 |
| Safety | #8 | #44 |
| Economy | #7 | #5 |
| Air quality | #30 | #13 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Idaho, you'd need about $120,000 in Washington.
To live the way $100,000 does in Washington, you'd need about $83,500 in Idaho.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Idaho taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Washington taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Idaho is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 17% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.93 versus 1.11. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Washington ranks higher (#5 vs #12). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Idaho leads on economy while Washington leads on economy.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Idaho is roughly equivalent to $120,000 in Washington for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.