Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 2% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$998
+2% in Boise, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,305
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,504
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$1,881
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$420,700
+8% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$83,198
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$52,710
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
35.6 yr
+2.6 yr in Boise, ID
Homeownership
63.0%
61.3%
+1.7 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
41.9%
+4.7 pp in Boise, ID
Avg Commute
19.1 min
22.8 min
+3.7 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
722.1
+140% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
1,135.1
3,488.7
+207% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
49.0°F
+3.5°F in Boise, ID
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
16.5 in
+4.8 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$4.25/gal
+1% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Mountain Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
16.2
+31% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$11.92
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
4.40%
+0.9 pp in ID

Boise vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Colorado Springs?
Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Colorado Springs?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).