Moving from Seattle to Boise
A typical worker keeps $4,566 more a year in Seattle than in Boise, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Seattle salary of $72,610, you'd need about $55,200 in Boise.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $4,566 more a year in Seattle than in Boise.
- Typical salary
- $72,610
- Federal income tax
- −$7,144
- Payroll taxes
- −$6,562
- State income tax
- $0
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$28,788
- Everyday costs
- −$18,442
a year, or $973 a month
- Typical salary
- $49,100
- Federal income tax
- −$3,712
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,756
- State income tax
- −$1,494
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$16,440
- Everyday costs
- −$16,590
a year, or $592 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Seattle | Boise | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)11.5% cheaper | 111.1 | 98.4 |
| Rent, studio$1,094 less | $2,302 | $1,208 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$1,029 less | $2,399 | $1,370 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$1,174 less | $2,806 | $1,632 |
| Food$38 less | $513 | $475 |
| Transportation$31 less | $406 | $375 |
| Healthcare$28 less | $376 | $348 |
| Utilities$58 less | $242 | $184 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$1,183 less | $3,936 | $2,753 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Boise City, ID area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Seattle | Boise |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$4,566 less | $72,610 | $49,100 |
| Registered nurse$9,344 less | $128,260 | $97,880 |
| Teacher$16,113 less | $102,781 | $61,439 |
| Electrician$15,293 less | $101,780 | $61,610 |
| Accountant$3,328 less | $99,370 | $76,700 |
| Software engineer$13,741 less | $167,280 | $131,590 |
| Truck driver$4,807 more | $71,240 | $60,330 |
| Nursing assistant$3,691 more | $51,990 | $39,220 |
| Medical assistant$1,502 more | $61,500 | $46,310 |
| Carpenter$5,874 less | $76,410 | $50,850 |
| Project manager$10,307 less | $130,380 | $98,580 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $72,610 (a typical Seattle wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Seattle | Boise | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $7,144 | $7,144 |
| Payroll taxes$1,007 less | $6,562 | $5,555 |
| State income tax$2,740 more | $0 | $2,740 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$1,733 more | $13,706 | $15,439 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Seattle | Boise | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$37,643 less | $118,745 | $81,102 |
| Median home value$452,300 less | $950,800 | $498,500 |
| Unemployment rate1.3 pts lower | 5.2% | 4% |
| Working from home9.7 pts lower | 24.4% | 14.6% |
Moving to Boise
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Boise than Seattle?
Yes: prices in the Boise area are 2% below the US average, against 11% above the US average in the Seattle area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,370 a month in Boise and $2,399 in Seattle.
How much more is rent in Seattle?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $1,029 a month (75.1%) higher in Seattle: $1,370 in Boise against $2,399 in Seattle.
How much do I need to earn in Boise to keep the same as in Seattle?
A typical worker in Seattle earns $72,610. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $55,200 in Boise.
Will I pay more tax in Boise?
Idaho taxes wages, and Washington has no state income tax on wages. On a typical Seattle salary of $72,610, total income and payroll taxes come to $15,439 in Boise and $13,706 in Seattle.
Do people keep more money in Boise or Seattle?
A typical worker keeps $4,566 more a year in Seattle than in Boise: $7,108 in Boise against $11,674 in Seattle, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate