Is it cheaper to live in Boise or St. Paul?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in St. Paul?

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

Which has lower taxes, Boise or St. Paul?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Boise vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 10% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$995

+3% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,126

+1% in Boise, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,384

+3% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,662

+5% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$280,300

+39% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$73,055

+10% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$59,320

+21% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

33.5 yr

+4.7 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

53.2%

+9.8 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

43.5%

+3.1 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

22.3 min

+3.2 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

619

+106% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

1,135.1

2,897.2

+155% in St. Paul, MN

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

47.1°F

+5.4°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

28.5 in

+16.8 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.95/gal

+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

16.9

+37% in St. Paul, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$14.95

+38% in St. Paul, MN

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

$1.66

+19% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Paul, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

9.85%

+4.5 pp in MN

Boise vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or St. Paul?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or St. Paul?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).