Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,280 in Boise, ID versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 14% higher in Boise, ID. Both cities are in Idaho, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Boise vs Idaho Falls — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Idaho Falls?
- Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Idaho Falls?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
- Which has lower taxes, Boise or Idaho Falls?
- Neither — both are in Idaho, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).