Route comparison
Seattle, WA vs Boise, ID: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Seattle, WA and Boise, ID. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Seattle, WA
WA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 113.7
- Housing RPP
- 154.8
- Goods RPP
- 116.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,645/mo
Washington has no state income tax. Sales tax 6.5%+local up to 10.5%.
Boise, ID
ID
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 94.2
- Housing RPP
- 102.5
- Goods RPP
- 95.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,388/mo
Idaho income tax 5.8% flat (since 2023).
Equivalent salary
Boise, ID is cheaper than Seattle, WA by about 17.2% (RPP 113.7 to 94.2).
$60,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $49,710
in Boise, ID
$100,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $82,850
in Boise, ID
$150,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $124,274
in Boise, ID
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.
Migration signal: Seattle, WA vs Boise, ID
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Seattle, WA
- Net people
- −28,174
- Net rank
- #58 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Thurston County, WA.
Boise, ID
- Net people
- +9,007
- Net rank
- #15 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Payette County, ID.
Rent delta: Boise, ID is $1,257/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Seattle, WA. Housing RPP moves from 154.8 to 102.5.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Boise, ID cheaper or more expensive than Seattle, WA?
- Boise, ID (RPP 94.2) is cheaper than Seattle, WA (RPP 113.7) by about 17.2%.
- What salary do I need in Boise, ID if I earn $100,000 in Seattle, WA?
- You would need approximately $82,850 in Boise, ID to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Seattle, WA. Formula: $100,000 x (94.2 / 113.7).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Seattle, WA or Boise, ID?
- For 2021-2022, Seattle, WA had a net loss of 28,174 people, while Boise, ID had a net gain of 9,007 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.