Salary comparison
Security Guards: Idaho Falls vs Kahului
Idaho Falls, ID pays about 61.6% more for security guards on paper — $78,680 vs $48,690. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Idaho Falls comes out ahead by $29,990 a year in real buying power.
Idaho Falls, ID
$78,680
$47,880
$78,680
$37.83
100
$78,680/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Kahului, HI
$48,690
$44,010
$57,320
$23.41
100
$48,690/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $29,990 a year (61.6%) in favor of Idaho Falls. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Idaho Falls runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Kahului sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Idaho Falls is the better deal by $29,990 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Kahului to Idaho Falls for this role, the raise needs to beat 61.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do security guards earn more, Idaho Falls or Kahului?
Idaho Falls pays $78,680 on median — about 61.6% more than Kahului ($48,690). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Idaho Falls. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Idaho Falls gives you roughly$78,680 of real buying power versus $48,690 in the other city.