Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$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 Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 8% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$997
+2% in Boise, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,166
+3% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,461
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$1,993
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$495,700
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$74,925
+8% in Boise, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$55,240
+13% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
33.0 yr
+5.2 yr in Boise, ID
Homeownership
63.0%
46.8%
+16.2 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
50.9%
+4.3 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
19.1 min
19.6 min
+0.5 min in Salt Lake City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
878.8
+192% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
1,135.1
5,257.3
+363% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+0.3°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
16.1 in
+4.4 in in Salt Lake City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$4.29/gal
about equal

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
13.0
+5% in Salt Lake City, UT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$10.26
+5% in Boise, ID

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 / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
4.50%
+0.8 pp in ID

Boise vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Salt Lake City?
Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Salt Lake City?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).