Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 24% higher in Washington, DC. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$1,763
+73% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,885
+66% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,949
+45% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$2,249
+29% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$724,600
+59% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$106,287
+31% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$71,060
+45% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
34.9 yr
+3.3 yr in Boise, ID
Homeownership
63.0%
41.1%
+21.9 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
63.6%
+17.0 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
19.1 min
30.3 min
+11.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
936.3
+211% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,135.1
3,627.9
+220% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+5.7°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
39.7 in
+28.0 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
25.4
+106% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$22.01
+103% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Boise, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Boise, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Washington, DC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Boise, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Boise, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
10.75%
+5.5 pp in DC

Boise vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Washington?
Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Washington?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).