Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Boise, ID's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Newark?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Boise vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 40% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,111

+9% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$978

+14% in Boise, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,386

+3% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,695

+3% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$337,800

+26% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$48,416

+40% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$61,430

+25% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

24.1%

+38.9 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

17.4%

+29.2 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

33.2 min

+14.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

582.5

+94% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,135.1

1,961.8

+73% in Newark, NJ

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

54.9°F

+2.4°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

46.3 in

+34.5 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Boise, ID

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

23.3

+88% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$15.93

+47% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ

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 / NJ)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

10.75%

+5.5 pp in NJ

Boise vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Boise, ID's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Newark?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).