The Cost of Basics
To capture the reality of household costs across Idaho, United For ALICE provides household budgets that are tailored by location and household type.
The ALICE Household Survival Budget
The Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in today’s economy and includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology, plus taxes and a 10% miscellaneous category. This budget is the basis for determining whether households are above or below the ALICE Threshold by county.
Hover over a budget item below to see view-sources, descriptions, and updates (where applicable).
Housing
Housing
110% of Fair Market Rent (FMR) for an efficiency, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartment (based on family size), including utilities, adjusted in metro areas using Small Area FMR
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Child Care
Child Care
Cost for registered Family Child Care Homes for infants (0–2 years), preschool-age children (3–4 years), and school-age children (5–17 years)
Source: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Food
Food
USDA Thrifty Food Plan by age, with county variation from Feeding America
Source: Feeding America; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Transportation
Transportation
Operating costs for a car (average daily miles by age, cost per mile, license, fees, and insurance), or public transportation where viable
Source: AAA, Federal Highway Administration, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) (car); Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) (public transportation)
Health Care
Health Care
Health insurance premiums based on employer-sponsored plans plus out-of-pocket costs for households with $40,000–$69,999 annual income by age, weighted with the poor health multiplier. For the ALICE 65+ Survival Budget, cost of Medicare Parts A and B, out-of-pocket costs, plus average out-of-pocket spending for the top five chronic diseases as reported by CMS.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) (health); Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Technology
Technology
Basic broadband internet at home and a smartphone plan with unlimited data for each adult in a household using average cost of three top major providers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) and three top basic (lower-cost) wireless providers (Visible, U.S. Mobile, and Consumer Cellular)
Source: Consumer Reports; Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Taxes
Taxes
Federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) and federal, state, and local income taxes owed on household income to cover the Survival Budget, as well as the federal Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
Source: Internal Revenue Service; Tax Foundation; calculated for United For ALICE by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA)
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Cost overruns estimated at 10% of the budget, excluding taxes, to cover one-time unanticipated costs within the other categories
In 2024, household costs in every county in Idaho were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $15,060 for a single adult and $31,200 for a family of four.
Use the interactive tables below to explore how basic costs vary based on location and the number and ages of household members. These ALICE Household Survival Budget figures default to state data.
In the Survival Budget table below, TYPE ONE OR MORE COUNTIES into the box to see costs for eight common household compositions by location. Click “X” to remove a county from the list.
Notes: The budget for One Adult, One Child includes costs for one adult and a school-age child. The budget for One Adult, One in Child Care includes costs for an adult and preschool-age child. The budget for Two Adults, Two in Child Care includes costs for two adults, one infant, and a preschool-age child. "Hourly Wage" shows the full-time wage needed to support each budget.
Sources: For ALICE Survival Budget sources, see the Methodology Overview on the Methodology page.
Learn More: Cost of Living by Location
See cost of living mapped by county using the ALICE Mapping Tool
The ALICE Household Survival Budget can also be calculated for additional household combinations, or compared to other counties in ALICE partner states. Use the interactive Survival Budget Calculator below to calculate budgets for households with up to six adults (including those under and over 65 years of age) and up to six children (under 18 years of age), and to compare costs across locations
Learn More: Comparing Costs to Income
Use the ALICE Budget and Income Status Tool to compare ALICE Household Survival Budget costs to income, tailored by location and household composition, to determine if a household is Poverty-Level, ALICE, or Above the ALICE Threshold.
The ALICE Household Stability Budget
The ALICE Household Stability Budget incorporates the higher costs for maintaining a more financially stable household over time, including a 10% savings category that can be used in an emergency or for longer-term goals like additional education or buying a home.
Notes: The budget for Two Adults, Two in Child Care includes costs for two adults, one infant, and one preschooler. "Hourly Wage" shows the full-time wage needed to support each budget.
Sources: For ALICE Stability Budget sources, see the Methodology Overview on the Methodology page.