Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Portland?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Portland?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Boise vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 6% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,038

+2% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,331

+17% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,664

+24% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,919

+10% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$452,600

+1% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$76,174

+6% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$56,960

+16% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

37.5 yr

+0.7 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

46.7%

+16.3 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

59.2%

+12.6 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

19.1 min

19.9 min

+0.8 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

272.7

+9% in Boise, ID

Property Crime

1,135.1

2,513.3

+121% in Portland, ME

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

46.5°F

+6.0°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

47.3 in

+35.5 in in Portland, ME

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

28.6

+132% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$21.00

+94% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

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 / ME)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

7.15%

+1.9 pp in ME

Boise vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Portland?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Portland?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).