Cost of living in Boise City, ID Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 94.2 (US = 100)
How Boise City compares Where Boise City 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) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 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 City 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 US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.2 #86 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.8 #68 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.36 #84 of 200 Median household income $78,138 #68 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $39,287 #110 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 3.29% #9 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +13.9% #14 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $496,288 #165 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.4× #169 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.3% #130 of 200 Price per square foot $268 #163 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,837 #140 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,842 Median days on market 9 #43 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.7% #124 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.03% #28 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.80% Capital gains tax 5.80% #137 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.59% #33 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,259 #81 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 #10 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 #19 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $140 #124 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 23 min #53 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 12.7¢/kWh #2 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $114 #2 of 200 Gasoline $3.70/gal #168 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,100 #2 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $500 #1 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $300 #143 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 54 #168 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 700 #25 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 #141 of 200 Avg summer high 90°F #135 of 200 Avg winter low 24°F #124 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 240 #13 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,300 #8 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #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.
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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 (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.