Cost of Living in Boise, ID
Updated November 2026 · Ada County · Boise City, ID metro area · population 237,242
Prices in Boise are 1.7% below the US average (local index 98.3; the BEA index for the Boise City, ID metro area is 98.4), with utilities the biggest saving at 70.7; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,716 a month and the median rent is $1,446.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Boise's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Boise City, ID metro area, unchanged.
Boise price index by category, US average = 100: All items 98.3, Housing (rents) 101.0, Goods 96.2, Utilities 70.7, Other services 99.0
It is the 3rd most expensive of the 9 Idaho cities in our data. Cheaper than 64% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.7 | 93.6 | 93.8 | 94.2 | 94.2 | 98.4 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Boise, ID
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,121 | $13,452 | 41% |
| Utilities | $191 | $2,292 | 7% |
| Food at home | $271 | $3,252 | 10% |
| Transportation | $623 | $7,476 | 23% |
| Health care | $348 | $4,176 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $162 | $1,944 | 6% |
| Total | $2,716 | $32,592 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Boise, ID
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,334 | $16,008 | 31% |
| Utilities | $304 | $3,648 | 7% |
| Food at home | $501 | $6,012 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,232 | $14,784 | 28% |
| Health care | $645 | $7,740 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $319 | $3,828 | 7% |
| Total | $4,335 | $52,020 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Boise, ID
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,675 | $20,100 | 31% |
| Utilities | $370 | $4,440 | 7% |
| Food at home | $714 | $8,568 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,640 | $19,680 | 30% |
| Health care | $601 | $7,212 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $411 | $4,932 | 8% |
| Total | $5,411 | $64,932 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Boise
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,134 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,219 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,450 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,821 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,624 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,446 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,330 |
| Median home value | $484,800 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,779/mo |
| Median household income | $83,904 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 29.6% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 5.8× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Idaho
13.37¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +10.7% (from 12.08¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 906 kWh a month in Idaho ≈ $116/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)
$4.21 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +43.4% (from $2.94) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Idaho is covered by the Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Boise are 1.7% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $61,000 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 98.3. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian, ID | 9 mi | 102.9 | $3,113 | $1,805 |
| Nampa, ID | 17 mi | 98.0 | $2,421 | $1,420 |
| Caldwell, ID | 22 mi | 96.0 | $2,355 | $1,264 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mableton, GA | 98.3 | $2,754 | $1,472 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 98.3 | $2,831 | $1,596 |
| Carson City, NV | 98.3 | $2,558 | $1,248 |
| Catalina Foothills, AZ | 98.2 | $2,648 | $1,412 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 98.2 | $2,736 | $1,465 |
| New Braunfels, TX | 98.2 | $2,818 | $1,654 |
Compare Boise with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Boise, ID an expensive place to live?
Boise has a local cost of living index of 98.3, which is 1.7% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Boise City, ID metro area (98.4) and adjusts housing to Boise's own rents. It is 2.8 points above the Idaho average. It is the 3rd most expensive of the 9 Idaho cities in our data. Cheaper than 64% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Boise?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,716 for a single adult, $4,335 for a couple and $5,411 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $59,000 in Boise.
What is the average rent in Boise?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,446 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,219, 2 bedrooms $1,450, 3 bedrooms $1,821. The typical renter spends 29.6% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Boise?
The median owner-estimated home value is $484,800, 5.8 times the median household income of $83,904 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,779 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Boise?
Idaho residential electricity averaged 13.37¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.21 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Boise City, ID metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 98.4) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1608830 (Boise City city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Idaho residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources