Not cheap, not expensive, but not quite just right
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12/22/2008
Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort make our area a tourist town, so there are the right places to buy, and the ones to avoid. For instance, Safeway in downtown Sandpoint is generally higher in pricing than Yoke's, which is marginally more than the Walmart Super Store. Still, having lived in Florida, Louisiana, and California before moving to Sandpoint, we noted groceries to be roughly 10% higher. Certainly beef and fish costs more, and sales are not always as deeply discounted. This is more because of lack of competition, and the limited population. Gas prices follow Spokane and even Seattle rates, and they have the higher Washington taxes. South of Sandpoint, in Coeur d'Alene, gas prices can be 10% or more cheaper. Utilities are low compared to much of the nation, as are supplied in the Pacific Northwest by hydro generation, but with colder winters than many other areas, the cost during winter can be more than many are used to. Health care is reasonable, and this month Idaho was rated the 8th healthiest state. With miles of bike trails, and outdoor living a big part of life in Sandpoint and all of Idaho, this is a given. Major purchases like homes and cars are in the middle of national numbers, though home prices, like many other desirable resort areas, sky-rocketed over the last few years, and has only drawn back marginally over the last three. Sandpoint is a generally reasonable city to live in and you don't have to be rich to live here. Still, many look back just five years ago to reminisce about when homes had a median price of $126,500, and everything was more affordable.
Gary | Sandpoint, ID