Portland vs Boise
Portland, OR · Boise, ID
Boise is 13% cheaper than Portland overall.
Home Price
Portland: $490,000
Boise: $435,000
Monthly Rent
Portland: $1,395/mo
Boise: $1,298/mo
COL Index
Portland: 123
Boise: 107
Median Income
Portland: $81,200
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 Portland has the same purchasing power as $86,992 in Boise — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Boise cost 11% more (-$55,000 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 Portland vs $1,298/mo in Boise.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Portland owners pay roughly $4,508/year in property taxes vs $2,741/year in Boise. That's a $1,768 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $81,200 in Portland and $70,400 in Boise. Boise residents earn 13% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Portland vs 22 minutes in Boise. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Portland to Boise, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Portland | Equivalent in Boise | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,496 | -$6,504 |
| $75,000 | $65,244 | -$9,756 |
| $100,000 | $86,992 | -$13,008 |
| $150,000 | $130,488 | -$19,512 |
| $200,000 | $173,984 | -$26,016 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Portland or Boise
Portland Calculators
Boise Calculators
Related Comparisons
Portland vs Boise: Common Questions
Is Portland or Boise cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Boise is cheaper overall. Portland has a COL index of 123 while Boise scores 107 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Portland and Boise?
The median home price in Portland is $490,000 vs $435,000 in Boise — a difference of $55,000 (11%).
What salary do I need in Boise to match my Portland income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Portland is equivalent to $86,992 in Boise in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Boise has a lower property tax rate (0.63% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,741/year vs $4,508/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.