Home › ID › Boise, ID Cost of living in Boise, ID Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 94.2 (US = 100)
How Boise compares Where Boise falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $496k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $496k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $268 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $268 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.59% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.59% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 240 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 240 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 12.7 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 12.7 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 90° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 90° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 24° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 24° Map of Boise Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.2 metro-area #86 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.8 metro-area #68 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.36 metro-area #84 of 200 Median household income $78,138 metro-area #68 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $39,287 metro-area #110 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.4 years metro-area #68 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 36.6% metro-area #67 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.6% metro-area #130 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 72.7% metro-area #23 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 3.29% metro-area #9 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +13.9% metro-area #14 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $496,288 metro-area #165 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.4× metro-area #169 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.3% metro-area #130 of 200 Price per square foot $268 metro-area #163 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,837 metro-area #140 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,842 Median days on market 9 metro-area #43 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.7% state #124 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.03% state #28 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.70% Capital gains tax 5.80% state #137 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.59% metro-area #33 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,259 metro-area #81 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.8 years metro-area #38 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 state #10 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 8.9% metro-area #110 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 68 metro-area #135 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 state #19 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $140 state #124 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #53 of 200 Commute by driving alone 71.8% metro-area #58 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 29.8% metro-area #82 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 12.7¢/kWh state #2 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $114 state #2 of 200 Gasoline $3.70/gal state #168 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $205 state #194 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,100 state #2 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 80.5 — Relatively Low metro-area #27 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $500 state #1 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $300 state #143 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 54 metro-area #168 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 700 metro-area #25 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 81% state #166 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 48 metro-area #126 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 6 metro-area #171 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 90°F metro-area #135 of 200 Avg winter low 24°F metro-area #124 of 200 Annual precipitation 11.7" metro-area #13 of 200 Annual snowfall 19.0" metro-area #121 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 61% metro-area #82 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 240 state #13 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,300 state #8 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Easy; fast-growing but light regulation
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Boise Major public and private employers in the Boise, ID area.
Employer Sector Jobs St. Luke's Health System Healthcare Careers → Micron Technology Tech Careers → Albertsons Companies Retail Careers → Boise State University Education Search → St. Alphonsus Health System Healthcare Search → West Ada School District Education Search →
Salaries by occupation in Boise Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $191,340 Pharmacists $135,490 Physician Assistants $123,010 Marketing Managers $118,600 Financial Managers $110,740 Human Resources Managers $109,490 Software Developers $107,160 Data Scientists $104,000 Lawyers $101,800 Physical Therapists $93,930 Construction Managers $86,590 Civil Engineers $84,430 Registered Nurses $84,320 Dental Hygienists $83,200 Mechanical Engineers $82,790 General & Operations Managers $75,360 Web Developers $70,720 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $67,670 Accountants & Auditors $63,450 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $62,930 Elementary School Teachers $57,800 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,900 Graphic Designers $49,880 Electricians $49,280 Carpenters $46,210 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,060 Medical Assistants $41,300
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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