Median rent is 16% lower in Boise City ($1,446/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Boise City, where the median home runs $484,800 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $83,904 a year). Taken together, Boise City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 89.4 against 98.3 — about 9% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Boise City is 9% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 89.4 in Boise City vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Boise City, ID
How much would you need to earn in Boise City, ID to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Boise City, ID
$68,191
You could earn $6,809 less (9% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Boise City
Idaho
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Boise City at $1,446/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (16% gap). Median home values are within 13% of each other: $555,300 in Austin and $484,800 in Boise City.
Metric
Austin
Boise City
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Boise City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Boise City has cleaner air on average: 36.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Boise City if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 89.4 vs 98.3).
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Boise City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,446/mo median).
Pick Boise City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 36.0).
Boise City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 89.4 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 9% lower in Boise City.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,446/mo in Boise City, ID. Boise City, ID has the lower rent by about 16%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $83,904 in Boise City, ID. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Boise City, ID has better air quality on average: 36.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $90,921 in Boise City, ID (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
