Moscow at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 26,387 residents, ranking 14th of 197 places in Idaho (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 25,452 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.7% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: 14th-largest of 197 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 93% of the places in Idaho (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 46.7306, -116.9989 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Pullman, WA (8 mi); Lewiston, ID (23 mi); Spokane Valley, WA (65 mi); Spokane, WA (68 mi); Coeur d'Alene, ID (68 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: Troy, ID (11 mi); Albion, WA (13 mi); Genesee, ID (13 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Moscow
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Moscow
The Idaho rate caps and licensing rules that reach Moscow are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Moscow
A few practical steps will make the process in Moscow less costly:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.