Overall
98.4
-1.6 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Boise City, ID
Cost-of-living indicators for Boise City, ID, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 98.4
- Overall RPP
- #103
- of 387 metros
- 105.6
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Boise City costs less than 27% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.4, 1.6% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 70.7.
- 98.4
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #103
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 73%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 105.6
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $101,635 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,391.
What the Numbers Mean for Boise City
Boise City ranks #103 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.4, Boise City, ID is 1.6% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Boise City's most and least expensive categories — rents at 105.6 versus services at 70.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $101,635 inside Boise City, while a household needs roughly $98,391 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 105.6 — 5.6% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Boise City's overall index has risen by 3.1 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.2 and services at 70.7, meaning everyday spending in Boise City is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Boise City vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
98 Top 27% higher than 73% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Boise City cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
105.6 RPP
- Services
Services
70.7 RPP
- Overall
Overall
98.4 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.2 RPP
What this shows Boise City's gap from the national average is led by services at 70.7. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Boise City's cost comes from
Metros near Boise City's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 97, rents 93.8). Boise City is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Boise City's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.2
-3.8 below avg
Services
70.7
-29.3 below avg
Rents
105.6
+5.6 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$98,391
in Boise City, ID purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,196
$75,000 nationally
$73,793
$125,000 nationally
$122,989
$150,000 nationally
$147,587
$200,000 nationally
$196,782
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 3.1 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 95.5 |
| 2011 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 93.2 |
| 2017 | 95.9 |
| 2018 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 93.6 |
| 2021 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 94.2 |
| 2023 | 94.2 |
| 2024 | 98.4 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Boise City, ID's index of 98.4.
Other ID Metros
What this means for Boise City
How to read Boise City's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $101,635 in Boise City. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 105.6 (5.6% above average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $82,694; adjusted for Boise City's price level that is about $84,046 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Boise City head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Boise City, ID? ▼
Boise City, ID has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.4, meaning it is 1.6% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.2, services at 70.7, and rents at 105.6. It ranks #103 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Boise City, ID to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,391 in Boise City, ID. Conversely, $100K earned in Boise City, ID has the purchasing power of $101,635 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Boise City, ID? ▼
Rents in Boise City, ID are indexed at 105.6, which is 5.6% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Boise City, ID getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Boise City, ID's overall cost index changed by +3.1 points (from 95.3 to 98.4). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Boise City, ID? ▼
The most expensive category in Boise City, ID is rents at 105.6, which is 5.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 70.7, 29.3% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Boise City, ID? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Barnstable Town, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Coeur d'Alene. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Boise City, ID's 98.4.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
