Is it cheaper to live in Boise or New Haven?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or New Haven?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Boise vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,280/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,280 in Boise, ID versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 34% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,159

+14% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,275

+13% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,473

+10% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,636

+6% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$249,000

+45% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$53,771

+34% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$60,060

+22% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

31.9 yr

+6.3 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

28.4%

+34.6 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

37.7%

+8.9 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

21.0 min

+1.9 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

536.3

+78% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

1,135.1

3,601.6

+217% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+0.3°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

47.1 in

+35.4 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

24.3

+69% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$23.33

+106% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / CT)

6.35%

+0.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

6.99%

+1.7 pp in CT

Boise vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or New Haven?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or New Haven?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).