Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

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

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 8% higher in Portland, OR. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$1,294
+27% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,440
+27% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,741
+30% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$2,053
+17% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$557,600
+22% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$88,792
+9% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$60,690
+24% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
38.6 yr
+0.4 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
63.0%
52.8%
+10.2 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
53.5%
+6.9 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
19.1 min
24.6 min
+5.5 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
732.3
+143% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
1,135.1
5,609.4
+394% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+2.0°F in Portland, OR
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
42.9 in
+31.1 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.09/gal
+19% in Portland, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
16.3
+32% in Portland, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$20.59
+90% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / OR)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
9.90%
+4.6 pp in OR

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, OR'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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).