Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 33% higher in Seattle, WA. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$1,638
+60% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,858
+64% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$2,359
+76% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$2,918
+67% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$912,100
+100% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$121,984
+50% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$72,610
+48% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
35.5 yr
+2.7 yr in Boise, ID
Homeownership
63.0%
44.2%
+18.8 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
67.5%
+20.9 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
19.1 min
26.6 min
+7.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
788.6
+162% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,135.1
5,108.8
+350% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+1.0°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
37.7 in
+26.0 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.31/gal
+24% in Seattle, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
14.9
+21% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$20.41
+89% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Boise vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Seattle?
Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Seattle?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).