Median rent is 21% lower in Boise City ($1,446/mo vs $1,831/mo). Buying is cheaper in Boise City, where the median home runs $484,800 versus $616,000. Households earn more in Denver ($94,718 vs $83,904 a year).
City A
Boise City, ID
City B
Denver, CO
How much would you need to earn in Denver, CO to maintain your standard of living from Boise City, ID?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
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
Boise City
Idaho
Denver
Colorado
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Boise City — median rent of $1,446/mo versus $1,831/mo in Denver, a 21% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Denver: the median home is $616,000 versus $484,800 in Boise City — 21% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Boise City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Denver
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Denver has cleaner air on average: 27.0 AQI (Good) compared to 36.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Denver if you prioritize higher median household income ($94,718/yr).
Pick Boise City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,446/mo median).
Pick Denver if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 27.0).
Is Boise City cheaper than Denver?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Boise City vs Denver?
Median rent is $1,446/mo in Boise City, ID and $1,831/mo in Denver, CO. Boise City, ID has the lower rent by about 21%.
Which has higher salaries — Boise City or Denver?
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise City, ID and $94,718 in Denver, CO. Denver, CO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Denver, CO has better air quality on average: 27.0 AQI versus 36.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Boise City or Denver?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Denver to match my Boise City income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
