Cost of Living in Boise, ID
Boise costs about the same as the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
Boise at a Glance
On the median income of $81,102, state income tax is roughly $4,619/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
Boise is the city that discovered what happens when West Coast remote workers find your secret. The Treasure Valley's population has surged as Californians, Oregonians, and Washingtonians brought their salaries and drove median home prices from $250,000 to $430,000 in a few years. The cost of living now sits right at the national average, which feels expensive to longtime Idahoans but remains a bargain for transplants comparing to Portland or Seattle. The outdoor access (Boise River, foothills trails from downtown, ski resorts within two hours) remains the draw.
How People Get Around
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to Boise
The Boise River Greenbelt runs through the city, and you can float it on a tube in summer. The foothills start at the edge of downtown with trails for hiking, biking, and running. Bogus Basin ski resort is 45 minutes away. The downtown has grown into a genuine dining and cultural scene. The job market has diversified with tech (HP, Micron) and healthcare (St. Luke's). For remote workers, the combination of outdoor lifestyle and lower costs than West Coast cities is compelling.
Neighborhoods
The North End is the walkable, tree-lined neighborhood near downtown and Hyde Park. The Bench offers slightly more affordable homes with city views. Eagle and Meridian to the west are family-oriented suburbs. Nampa and Caldwell further west in the Treasure Valley offer the most affordable housing. The East End and Table Rock area provide hillside living near the foothills.
Things to Consider
Housing prices have roughly doubled since 2018 and have not meaningfully retreated. Idaho's income tax of 5.695% is higher than neighboring Washington (0%) and Nevada (0%). The city has grown faster than infrastructure can keep up, with traffic and urban sprawl concerns. Summers include increasing wildfire smoke from regional fires. The cultural scene, while growing, is still developing. Winters are cold with occasional inversions.
Compare Boise To...
Frequently Asked Questions About Boise
Compared to five years ago, no. Compared to Seattle, Portland, or the Bay Area, yes. Median home prices around $498,500 are at the national average. For someone moving from a city where the median is $700,000+, Boise still offers meaningful savings. For someone from the Midwest or South, Boise's prices may feel high for what was recently a mid-size Western city.
The pandemic-era remote work boom brought an influx of high-income workers from California, Oregon, and Washington who could suddenly work from anywhere. They brought West Coast salaries to a market priced for Idaho wages, driving up home prices rapidly. Boise's popularity in 'best places to live' rankings amplified the effect. The influx has slowed but prices have not returned to pre-boom levels.
Boise's economy has diversified beyond its agricultural roots. Micron Technology (semiconductors), HP (printing division), and Albertsons (grocery chain headquarters) are major employers. Healthcare (St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus) is the largest employment sector. The tech sector is growing. State government provides stability. The remote work population has added a layer of income not dependent on local employment.