Residential comparison · 13 facts
Boise, ID vs Idaho Falls, ID
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Boise needs about $76,500 in Idaho Falls to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Idaho Falls, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $93,500 in Boise.
A few differences
- Idaho Falls is lower on property tax rate (0.55% vs 0.65%).
- Boise is lower on sales tax (6% vs 6.05%).
- Idaho Falls is lower on groceries index (96 vs 99).
Boise vs Idaho Falls · facet by facet
| Facet | Boise, ID | Idaho Falls, ID |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $480,000 | $335,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,600/mo | $1,024/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.65% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.19% | 3.19% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6.05% |
| Cost of living index | 101 | 89 |
| Groceries index | 99 | 96 |
| Utilities | $140/mo | $130/mo |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $73,110 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| Crime index | 34/100 | 28/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 206 days | 210 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Boise, ID · Idaho Falls, ID
Questions & answers
- Is Boise cheaper than Idaho Falls?
- Idaho Falls has the lower day-to-day cost index (89 vs 101 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Idaho Falls equals $85,000 in Boise?
- A household earning $85,000 in Boise needs about $76,500 in Idaho Falls to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Idaho Falls lifestyle costs about $93,500 in Boise.