Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 18% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$795
+22% in Boise, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$882
+22% in Boise, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,085
+19% in Boise, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$1,356
+22% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$215,100
+53% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$66,702
+18% in Boise, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$47,230
+4% in Boise, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
35.0 yr
+3.2 yr in Boise, ID
Homeownership
63.0%
59.1%
+3.9 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
34.0%
+12.6 pp in Boise, ID
Avg Commute
19.1 min
22.2 min
+3.1 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
685.9
+128% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
1,135.1
2,929.1
+158% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+9.0°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
36.5 in
+24.8 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
13.4
+8% in Oklahoma City, OK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$27.15
+151% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Boise, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Boise, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Boise, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Boise, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
4.50%
+0.8 pp in ID

Boise vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Boise, ID's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Oklahoma City?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).