Coeur d'Alene vs Post Falls: Housing Costs in Idaho
Side-by-side comparison of home prices, mortgage payments, and housing costs between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, Idaho. Using Idaho's 0.63% property tax rate and $1,600/year insurance. Updated for 2026.
Metric
Coeur d'Alene
Post Falls
Median Home Price
$525K
$435K
Population
54,628
38,965
Average Rent
$1,580/mo
$1,450/mo
Est. Monthly Mortgage (P&I)
$2,987/mo
$2,475/mo
Est. Monthly Property Tax
$276/mo
$228/mo
Est. Monthly Insurance
$133/mo
$133/mo
Est. Total PITI
$3,592/mo
$2,999/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.7
25.0
Verdict
Post Falls edges out Coeur d'Alene in affordability, saving you roughly $593/month on total housing costs. Both cities are in Idaho, so property tax rates and insurance costs are the same — the difference comes down to home prices and what you get for your money in each market.
Monthly Payment Comparison
Estimated PITI payments assuming 10% down, 6.5% rate, 30-year fixed mortgage with PMI. Uses Idaho's 0.63% property tax rate.
Coeur d'Alene
Home Price$525,000
Down Payment (10%)$52,500
Loan Amount$472,500
Monthly P&I$2,987
Monthly Property Tax$276
Monthly Insurance$133
Monthly PMI$197
Total PITI$3,592/mo
Annual property tax: $3,308
Post Falls
Home Price$435,000
Down Payment (10%)$43,500
Loan Amount$391,500
Monthly P&I$2,475
Monthly Property Tax$228
Monthly Insurance$133
Monthly PMI$163
Total PITI$2,999/mo
Annual property tax: $2,741
Buying in Post Falls saves you approximately $593/month ($7,116/year) compared to Coeur d'Alene, based on median home prices with identical loan terms.
Which City Is Better For...
First-Time Buyers
Post Falls is the better choice for first-time buyers, with a median price of $435K versus $525K in Coeur d'Alene. That's $90K less to save for a down payment. You'd need roughly $15K for an FHA 3.5% down payment in Post Falls, compared to $18K in Coeur d'Alene. Idaho offers the Idaho Housing DPA program (Up to 7% second mortgage) which applies in both cities.
Real Estate Investment
Post Falls has the better price-to-rent ratio at 25.0x versus 27.7x in Coeur d'Alene. A lower ratio generally signals better rental income relative to purchase price. Average rent in Post Falls is $1,450/month on a $435K median home, making it a stronger candidate for buy-and-rent investors.
Families
Coeur d'Alene (pop. 54,628) offers more amenities, schools, and services typical of a larger city, while Post Falls (pop. 38,965) may offer a quieter, more community-oriented lifestyle. Families on a budget may prefer Post Falls, where lower housing costs free up more income for childcare, education, and savings.