City Comparison

Duluth vs Nampa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

Nampa

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

The Verdict

19.0%

Duluth is 19.0% less expensive than Nampa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Duluth would need approximately $92,647 in Nampa to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
88
Duluth
104
Nampa
Groceries
99
Duluth
105
Nampa
Utilities
94
Duluth
83
Nampa
Transportation
100
Duluth
113
Nampa
Healthcare
123
Duluth
102
Nampa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $92,647 in Nampa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $60,714 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Nampa

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $371,000. The $103,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $499/month in Nampa. Duluth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth 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 123 in Duluth and 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $70,762 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,734/month in Nampa. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,647 in Nampa, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Nampa's is 104 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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