Salt Lake City vs Boise
Salt Lake City, UT · Boise, ID
Boise is 4% cheaper than Salt Lake City overall.
Home Price
Salt: $485,000
Boise: $435,000
Monthly Rent
Salt: $1,149/mo
Boise: $1,298/mo
COL Index
Salt: 111
Boise: 107
Median Income
Salt: $77,200
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 Salt Lake City has the same purchasing power as $96,396 in Boise — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Boise cost 10% more (-$50,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Salt Lake City saves you $149/month — $1,788 per year. Median rent: $1,149/mo in Salt Lake City vs $1,298/mo in Boise.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Salt Lake City owners pay roughly $2,571/year in property taxes vs $2,741/year in Boise. That's a $170 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $77,200 in Salt Lake City and $70,400 in Boise. Boise residents earn 9% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 23 minutes in Salt Lake City vs 22 minutes in Boise. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Salt Lake City to Boise, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Salt Lake City | Equivalent in Boise | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,198 | -$1,802 |
| $75,000 | $72,297 | -$2,703 |
| $100,000 | $96,396 | -$3,604 |
| $150,000 | $144,595 | -$5,405 |
| $200,000 | $192,793 | -$7,207 |
* 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
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Salt Lake City Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Salt Lake City vs Boise: Common Questions
Is Salt Lake City or Boise cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Boise is cheaper overall. Salt Lake City has a COL index of 111 while Boise scores 107 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Salt Lake City and Boise?
The median home price in Salt Lake City is $485,000 vs $435,000 in Boise — a difference of $50,000 (10%).
What salary do I need in Boise to match my Salt Lake City income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Salt Lake City is equivalent to $96,396 in Boise in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Salt Lake City has a lower property tax rate (0.53% vs 0.63%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,571/year vs $2,741/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.