Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Paterson?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $47,000 in Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Paterson?

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

Boise vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,280/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 34% 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

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$786

+23% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,183

+4% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,468

+9% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,729

+1% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$335,400

+26% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$53,766

+34% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$61,430

+25% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

33.3 yr

+4.9 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

26.2%

+36.8 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

12.5%

+34.1 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

23.1 min

+4.0 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

1,010.1

+236% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

1,135.1

2,391.4

+111% in Paterson, 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

52.2°F

+0.3°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

49.0 in

+37.3 in in Paterson, NJ

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

24.9

+74% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$17.68

+56% in Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Paterson?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Paterson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Paterson?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Paterson 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).