City Comparison

Alexandria vs Nampa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Nampa

Idaho
105
Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$74,300
Median Income

The Verdict

38.1%

Nampa is 38.1% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $54,310 in Nampa to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
104
Nampa
Groceries
113
Alexandria
105
Nampa
Utilities
97
Alexandria
83
Nampa
Transportation
107
Alexandria
113
Nampa
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
102
Nampa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $54,310 in Nampa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $103,571 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Nampa

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $371,000. The $219,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,232 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $499/month in Nampa. Nampa offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $332 in Nampa. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $70,762 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,734/month in Nampa. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nampa is 38.1% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,310 in Nampa, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Nampa's is 104 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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