Moving to The City of Trees: Boise, Idaho’s Cost of Living

One of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, the capital of Idaho, combines an exceptionally low unemployment rate and a cost of living that mirrors the national average with access to some of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas. Boise residents work at high-paying tech and corporate jobs during the day and spend weekends hiking, bicycling, fishing, kayaking and participating in other outdoor adventures.

But those aren’t the only perks of living in Boise. The city is also one of the safest to live in the United States. U.S. News and World Report ranked Boise 7th out of the 150 cities considered in its survey when it comes to safe places to live. It also ranked Boise the 11th best place to live overall and 16th best for quality of life, thanks not only to the recreational opportunities but the city’s thriving arts scene.

Ready to move? Here’s what you need to know about Boise, Idaho’s cost of living.

Boise, Idaho’s Cost of living

According to AreaVibes, Boise has an overall cost of living index score of 99, just below the national average of 100. The cost of living index score indicates how expensive (or inexpensive) it is to live in a particular city. If a city’s index score is higher than 100, then the cost of living is above average. If a city’s index score is lower than 100, then the cost of living is below average.

In general, most of your expenses in Boise will be nearly equal to the national average. Groceries, transportation and housing are the exceptions. You will pay slightly less for groceries and dining out than the national average but pay somewhat more for transportation costs. On the other hand, you will pay substantially more for housing, especially if you plan to buy a home. (More on that below.)

Boise is a bargain compared to the cost of living in other major Northwest cities. For example, Seattle’s cost of living is 56 percent above the national average, and its housing costs are 124 percent higher. Portland fares slightly better with a cost of living 27 percent above the national average and only 53 percent higher housing prices.

Jobs

Boise has an incredibly low unemployment rate of 3.2 percent, which is below the current national rate of 5.4 percent (at the time this article was written), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Agriculture figures prominently in Boise’s economy. Idaho itself is actually the nation’s top producer of potatoes and one of the leading cattle, lamb and trout. Not surprisingly, food producer J.R. Simplot Company is one of Boise’s top employers. Additionally, both Albertsons, Inc. and WinCo Foods are headquartered in Boise.

Lumber remains an economic force in the area with Idaho Timber, Idaho Pacific Lumber Company and building materials distributor Boise Cascade being major employers. However, technology has dominated Boise’s economy since the 1970s. For example, Hewlett-Packard Co. developed the first LaserJet printer in Boise, and Micro Technology, Inc. started in a local basement.

Other sectors with a strong presence in the local economy include healthcare, education and tourism.

Salary

The median household income in Boise is $65,463, with a typical resident making $38,263. The Boise Metropolitan Area, which includes Nampa and Meridian, has a very similar median household income of $66,466. Both are on par with the national median household income of $65,712.

According to Payscale.com, the highest paying jobs are in technology. Software developers, software engineers, and project managers can earn more than $100,000 per year. Because the cost of living trends along with the national average for most items, paychecks stretch further here than in other tech cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Austin. Like these cities, though, you will pay more for housing.

Real estate

According to Realtor.com, the median listing home price in Boise is $515,000, with an average of $295 per square foot. This is substantially higher than the national median home listing price of $293,000. Expect real estate prices to continue to skyrocket. Homes have been trending up 33.8 percent year-over-year.

There are approximately 102,182 households in Boise and 289,371 in the metropolitan area, according to the most recent U.S. Census Data. Roughly 61 percent of housing units are owner-occupied in Boise, with the remaining 39 percent of homes used as rentals. If you choose to rent, you’ll pay an average of $1,679 per month. This is nearly 26 percent higher than what you would have paid three years ago.

Taxes

Idaho’s state income tax is graduated, meaning you will pay more if you earn more. The scale ranges from 1 to 6.5 percent for top earners. Additionally, Idaho levies a sales tax of 6 percent. Since neither Ada County nor Boise currently have a sales tax, the sales tax in Boise is 6 percent.

Boise property taxes fund local entities called “taxing districts.” Depending on where you live, you may be liable for property taxes to fund the City of Boise, Boise School District and Ada County. These are the area’s largest taxing districts. But you could also be on the hook for property taxes to fund taxing districts like the Ada County Highway District or even a local cemetery district.

Transportation

Boise covers just 83.7 square miles. However, its metropolitan area spans much further—11,766.6 square miles. If you live and work in Boise, expect an average drive time of just 18.6 minutes. You’ll naturally have a longer commute if you live in the metro area. Expect to be on the road for 23 minutes. According to Gasbuddy.com, the average price of regular unleaded gas in Boise is $3.90, while the national average is $3.17 (when this article was written).

Public transportation in Boise is limited. Valley Regional Transit has 26 routes throughout the metro area but offers limited to no service on Sundays and at night. Fares cost $1.50 or a one-way ride or $2.50 for an all-day pass.

What the city lacks in public transportation, though, it makes up for in walkability. Walk Score deems Boise “very walkable” and gives it a score of 88. It’s even more bikeable. The website gives it a 99 for biking.

Other reasons to move to Boise

  • More than 180 miles of public trails for hiking, mountain biking and trail running surround the city. While great for fishing and floating, the Boise River also has a 25-mile riverfront pathway called the Greenbelt that is ideal for walking, jogging, bicycling and more.
  • Idaho is considered the “Whitewater Capital of the Word,” and some of the state’s best rapids are not far from Boise. You can take a half-day, full-day or overnight river adventure with a guide on the nearby Payette River.
  • Boise hosts the annual Gene Harris Jazz Festival and is home to the Boise Art Museum, Idaho Historical Museum, Basque Museum and Cultural Center and Idaho Black History Museum.
  • The city boasts the second-largest Basque community in the United States and has an entire block, Basque Block, in its downtown dedicated to preserving the culture. You can sample Basque food there and tour the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.
  • Idaho’s only American Viticulture Area, the Snake River Valley AVA, stretches across 12 counties in the state and up into Oregon. Many of the wineries have tasting rooms in the Boise Metropolitan Area.

Ready to move to Boise?

For more information about Boise, check Moving.com’s City Profile Report feature. Simply enter the zip code or the state and city of your potential move to get a free report with city demographics, real estate information, quality of life factors and more. For help finding the best moving company, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers.