City profile
Boise, ID cost of living
ID · BLS RPP 94.2
Overall RPP
94.2
US = 100
Housing RPP
102.5
Housing component
Goods RPP
95.6
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,388/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Boise, ID sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#47 of 67
-5.8 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-4.2
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#41 of 67
-218/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Boise, ID
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Boise, ID metro.
Moved in
50,711
people · 26,929 households
Moved out
41,704
people · 22,526 households
Net
+9,007
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#15 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+9,111
median -104 people
Largest flow share
3% in / 2% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,542
- Orange County, CA 1,500
- San Diego County, CA 1,118
- King County, WA 1,014
- Riverside County, CA 884
Where residents moved to
- Payette County, ID 873
- Elmore County, ID 781
- Maricopa County, AZ 746
- Malheur County, OR 495
- Twin Falls County, ID 478
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Boise, ID?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Boise, ID | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $47,100 | $50,000 x (94.2/100) |
| $75,000 | $70,650 | $75,000 x (94.2/100) |
| $100,000 | $94,200 | $100,000 x (94.2/100) |
| $125,000 | $117,750 | $125,000 x (94.2/100) |
| $150,000 | $141,300 | $150,000 x (94.2/100) |
| $200,000 | $188,400 | $200,000 x (94.2/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Idaho income tax 5.8% flat (since 2023).
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Boise, ID?
- Boise, ID has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 94.2 (US average = 100). It is 5.8% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Boise, ID?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $94,200 in Boise, ID to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Boise, ID?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boise, ID is approximately $1,388 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Boise, ID?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 50,711 people moved into the Boise, ID metro and 41,704 moved out — a net gain of roughly 9,007 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Los Angeles County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Boise, ID, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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