Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Philadelphia?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Philadelphia?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Boise vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 25% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,126

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,189

+5% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,394

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,406

+20% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$232,400

+49% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$60,698

+25% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$54,310

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

35.1 yr

+3.1 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

52.3%

+10.7 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

34.6%

+12.0 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

32.0 min

+12.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

917.1

+205% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

1,135.1

4,615.3

+307% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+4.6°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

48.5 in

+36.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Boise, ID

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

21.6

+74% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$19.17

+77% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA

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 / PA)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

3.07%

+2.2 pp in ID

Boise vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Philadelphia?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Philadelphia?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).