Cost of Living in Boise, ID, United States

Updated On June 20, 2023

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Boise, ID?

Why is Boise a place which should be visited or chosen as a future city for a permanent living when there are so many ideal places around the United States?

This is the question asked by numerous people thinking of coming to this country, and there are certain advantages that will ease your decision-making.

Lined with history, culture, and amazing lifestyle, there is no denying that Boise has everything a person needs.

Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

Even though the salaries are not high, going out and dining in restaurants is a frequent leisure time activity of Boise’s residents.

Furthermore, going out to eat at a restaurant is considered to be affordable, as the prices of both meals and alcohol are lower than in the rest of the country.

Markets

MARKETS

One tip to reduce the cost of food which highly affects your overall cost of living is to get groceries from huge supermarkets which frequently offer discounts or buy them at the local markets, just as the residents do.

You can either search for less expensive stores in your area.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Based on your preferences and distance from the workplace, you can either drive, take a taxi or make use of the very affordable and reliable public transport system.

You are allowed to pick the best fit for your needs which will highly depend on your income, as driving would definitely cost you more.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

When it comes to Internet prices, there are many providers and various packages to choose from, so you can decide which options are the best for you based on your usage.

Other services are quite affordable in Boise, not exceeding $226.80 which is lower than in the majority of the cities in the United States.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

While you will need to pay $32.2 for an hour of tennis, the price of the monthly pass in Boise’s gyms is around $40.

These prices are not too high, considering the salaries, but still, many people choose to do exercises outdoors whenever the weather allows.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

If you are moving with your children, besides having to pay higher rent and give more money on food and transportation, you will have to consider clothing expenses as well when planning your budget.

Children like wearing expensive clothing items, and they are not inexpensive in Boise.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Housing rates may fluctuate depending on the location and size of the place, but generally speaking, the prices are quite affordable in Boise.

Finding an apartment in the city center at a price lower than $1400 is almost impossible in the majority of cities in the United States.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Boise, ID

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$18.50
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$5.0
Water (0.33 Liter)$2.07
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$0.82
Loaf Bread (500g)$2.91
Eggs (12)$4.53
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$1.50
Monthly Pass$52.50
Gasoline$1.04
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$226.80
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.11
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$62.82
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$37.56
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$32.2
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$12.00
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$49.11
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$44.00
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$93.43
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$1626.07
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$1403.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$2460.00

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Boise, ID?

If you choose to use the buses instead of driving in Boise, not only will you reduce the amount spent on transportation, but also the stress of driving and finding a place to park.

Besides this, another way of putting some money aside for some other expenses is purchasing domestic products, rather than buying international food and goods that you are used to.

Import taxes cause these items to be quite expensive, while domestic things are more affordable, besides being a good replacement.

Average Costs Breakdown

14%
28%
7.8%
8.5%
4.7%
1.9%
35.1%

Boise, ID: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

The first and foremost advantage of Boise is the low rent.

This is the reason why so many people choose to settle exactly there.

However, the rent is not the only thing that has to be paid, so getting acquainted with other expenses would make your living more relaxing.

You should know that the difference between the minimum and the average salary is more than $1200, meaning that the minimum would not be high enough to satisfy the cost of some basic necessities.

Average Salary$3590.00
Minimum Wage$1256.7
Mortgage Interest Rate6.70%

Boise Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Boise Safety Review

Safety Index:
85
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: LOW
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: LOW
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Boise, ID

CityCost of Living Index
Albany, NY72.4
Albuquerque, NM72.4
Anchorage, AK72.4
Ann Arbor, MI72.4
Arlington, TX72.4
Asheville, NC72.4
Atlanta, GA72.4
Austin, TX72.4
Bakersfield, CA72.4
Baltimore, MD72.4
Bellevue, WA72.4
Bellingham, WA72.4
Berkeley, CA72.4
Birmingham, AL72.4
Boston, MA72.4
Boulder, CO72.4
Brooklyn, NY72.4
Buffalo, NY72.4
Burlington, VT72.4
Charleston, SC72.4
Charlotte, NC73.33
Chattanooga, TN72.4
Chicago, IL72.4
Cincinnati, OH72.4
Cleveland, OH72.4
Columbia, SC72.4
Columbus, OH72.4
Dallas, TX72.4
Dayton, OH72.4
Denver, CO72.4
Des Moines, IA72.4
Detroit, MI72.4
El Paso, TX72.4
Eugene, OR72.4
Everett, WA72.4
Fayetteville, AR72.4
Fort Myers, FL72.4
Fort Wayne, IN72.4
Fort Worth, TX72.4
Fresno, CA74.2
Gainesville, FL74.2
Grand Rapids, MI74.2
Greensboro, NC74.2
Hartford, CT74.2
Honolulu, HI74.2
Houston, TX74.2
Huntsville, AL74.2
Indianapolis, IN74.2
Irvine, CA74.2
Jacksonville, FL74.2
Jersey City, NJ74.2
Kansas City, MO74.2
Knoxville, TN74.2
Las Vegas, NV74.2
Lexington, KY74.2
Little Rock, AR74.2
Long Beach, CA74.2
Los Angeles, CA74.2
Louisville, KY74.2
Lubbock, TX74.2
Madison, WI74.2
Memphis, TN74.2
Miami, FL74.2
Milwaukee, WI74.2
Minneapolis, MN74.2
Nashville, TN74.2
New Orleans, LA74.2
New York, NY74.2
Oakland, CA74.2
Oklahoma City, OK74.2
Olympia, WA74.2
Orlando, FL74.2
Peoria, IL72.4
Philadelphia, PA72.4
Phoenix, AZ72.4
Pittsburgh, PA72.4
Portland, ME72.4
Portland, OR72.4
Raleigh, NC72.4
Reno, NV72.4
Richmond, VA74.2
Rochester, NY74.2
Sacramento, CA74.2
Saint Louis, MO74.2
Saint Paul, MN74.2
Saint Petersburg, FL74.2
Salem, OR74.2
Salt Lake City, UT74.2
San Antonio, TX74.2
San Diego, CA74.2
San Francisco, CA74.2
San Jose, CA74.2
Santa Barbara, CA74.2
Santa Rosa, CA74.2
Seattle, WA74.2
Spokane, WA74.2
Springfield, MO74.2
Syracuse, NY74.2
Tacoma, WA74.2
Tallahassee, FL74.2
Tampa, FL74.2
Toledo, OH74.2
Tucson, AZ74.2
Tulsa, OK74.2
Vancouver, WA74.2
Virginia Beach, VA74.2
Washington, DC74.2
West Palm Beach, FL74.2
Wichita, KS74.2

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

Share Your Experience

Share
Facebook Pinterest