Cost of Living in Boise City, ID
Boise City, ID — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Boise City, ID to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Boise City, ID?
With a price level of 98.4 (U.S. average = 100), Boise City, ID is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 6% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 29% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Boise City, ID vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.4 | −1.6% |
| Housing | 105.6 | +5.6% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 70.7 | −29.3% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Boise City, ID
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,162 | $46,480/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,369 | $54,760/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,643 | $65,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,300 | $92,000/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,750 | $110,000/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Boise City, ID
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Boise City, ID | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,400 | $32,858 |
| $60,000 | $59,000 | $47,568 |
| $80,000 | $78,700 | $61,133 |
| $100,000 | $98,400 | $73,947 |
| $150,000 | $147,600 | $105,436 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Idaho 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Boise City, ID's median wage of $49,100 takes home about $3,345 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,369, which is 41% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,976 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Boise City, ID
- Federal income tax$3,712
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,044
- Medicare (1.45%)$712
- Idaho income tax$1,494
- Take-home pay$40,138
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.30% state
Highest-paying jobs in Boise City, ID
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Idaho cities
Half of Idaho’s 857,440 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,660–$72,320 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Lewiston, ID stretches a paycheck furthest, while Logan, UT is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $49,100 | 98.4 | $1,369 | 41% | $1,976 | $40,794 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $46,800 | 94.4 | $1,095 | 34% | $2,106 | $40,685 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,750 | 98.3 | $1,302 | 40% | $1,958 | $39,804 |
| Logan, UT | $46,360 | 95.9 | $946 | 30% | $2,227 | $39,698 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $45,400 | 92.1 | $980 | 31% | $2,133 | $40,562 |
| Pocatello, ID | $45,160 | 88.9 | $894 | 29% | $2,204 | $41,820 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 91.2 | $931 | 28% | $2,364 | $43,371 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Boise City, ID vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 98.4 | $1,369 | $49,100 | 391,790 |
| Tucson, AZ | 96.9 | $1,081 | $47,760 | 389,630 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | $1,139 | $46,430 | 394,200 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | $51,820 | 404,130 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 106.9 | $2,100 | $61,470 | 404,180 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 95.5 | $1,185 | $48,060 | 404,700 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Boise City, ID expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Boise City, ID metro area are 98.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 105.6%. It is the #103 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Boise City, ID?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,035 in Boise City, ID (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,100.
Can you afford Boise City, ID on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,100 median wage takes home about $3,345 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,369 would take 41% of that.
How much is rent in Boise City, ID?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Boise City, ID are $1,162 for a studio, $1,369 for one bedroom, $1,643 for two bedrooms and $2,300 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Boise City, ID
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $83,680
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $98,580
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,700
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $131,590
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,230
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,140
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,990
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $97,880
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,310
- Nursing Assistant — $39,220
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,850
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,830
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,660
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $43,540
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,140
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $65,760
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $61,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,350
- Retail Salesperson — $35,670
- Cashier — $32,000
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,840
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,700
- Customer Service Representative — $46,640
- Office Clerks, General — $45,860
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,480
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,500
- Electrician — $61,610
- Carpenter — $50,850
- Construction Laborer — $47,510
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,190
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,710
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,480
- Light Truck Driver — $44,400
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,530