Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Boise?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Boise?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $45,000 in Boise.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Boise?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Boise under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Boise Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,260 in Boise, ID. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $81,308 in Boise, ID — about 10% higher in Boise, ID. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Boise, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,021

+6% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,133

+4% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,342

+5% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,749

+4% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$456,000

+65% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$81,308

+11% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,100

+5% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

38.2 yr

+4.6 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

54.8%

63.0%

+8.2 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

46.6%

+13.5 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

26.7 min

19.1 min

+7.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

301

+39% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

1,135.1

+53% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

52.5°F

+12.9°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

11.7 in

+27.9 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.29/gal

+18% in Boise, ID

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

12.3

+25% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$10.82

+65% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Boise, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Boise, ID

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / ID)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Arlington vs Boise — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Boise?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Boise?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $45,000 in Boise.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Boise?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Boise under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).