Denver vs Boise
Denver, CO · Boise, ID
Boise is 12% cheaper than Denver overall.
Home Price
Denver: $565,000
Boise: $435,000
Monthly Rent
Denver: $1,395/mo
Boise: $1,298/mo
COL Index
Denver: 121
Boise: 107
Median Income
Denver: $85,200
Boise: $70,400
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same purchasing power as $88,430 in Boise — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Boise cost 23% more (-$130,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Boise saves you $97/month — $1,164 per year. Median rent: $1,395/mo in Denver vs $1,298/mo in Boise.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Denver owners pay roughly $3,108/year in property taxes vs $2,741/year in Boise. That's a $367 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $85,200 in Denver and $70,400 in Boise. Boise residents earn 17% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Denver vs 22 minutes in Boise. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Denver to Boise, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Denver | Equivalent in Boise | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $44,215 | -$5,785 |
| $75,000 | $66,322 | -$8,678 |
| $100,000 | $88,430 | -$11,570 |
| $150,000 | $132,645 | -$17,355 |
| $200,000 | $176,860 | -$23,140 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Denver Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Denver vs Boise: Common Questions
Is Denver or Boise cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Boise is cheaper overall. Denver has a COL index of 121 while Boise scores 107 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Denver and Boise?
The median home price in Denver is $565,000 vs $435,000 in Boise — a difference of $130,000 (23%).
What salary do I need in Boise to match my Denver income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Denver is equivalent to $88,430 in Boise in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Denver has a lower property tax rate (0.55% vs 0.63%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,741/year vs $3,108/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.