Median rent is 4% lower in Boise City ($1,446/mo vs $1,508/mo). Buying is cheaper in Durham, where the median home runs $392,800 versus $484,800. Households earn more in Boise City ($83,904 vs $81,619 a year). Taken together, Boise City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 89.4 against 91.9 — about 3% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Boise City, ID.
Cost of living verdict
Boise City is 3% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 89.4 in Boise City vs 91.9 in Durham (US national average = 100)
City A
Boise City, ID
City B
Durham, NC
How much would you need to earn in Durham, NC to maintain your standard of living from Boise City, ID?
Equivalent salary in Durham, NC
$77,161
You'd need $2,161 more (3% higher).
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
Durham
North Carolina
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 rents are similar in both cities: $1,446/mo in Boise City and $1,508/mo in Durham. Median home values are within 19% of each other: $484,800 in Boise City and $392,800 in Durham.
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
Durham
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Durham has cleaner air on average: 33.0 AQI (Good) compared to 36.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Is Boise City cheaper than Durham?
Boise City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 89.4 versus 91.9 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 3% lower in Boise City.
How much is rent in Boise City vs Durham?
Median rent is $1,446/mo in Boise City, ID and $1,508/mo in Durham, NC. Boise City, ID has the lower rent by about 4%.
Which has higher salaries — Boise City or Durham?
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise City, ID and $81,619 in Durham, NC. Boise City, ID 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?
Durham, NC has better air quality on average: 33.0 AQI versus 36.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Boise City or Durham?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Durham to match my Boise City income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Boise City, ID is equivalent to roughly $102,881 in Durham, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
