CITY COMPARISON
Seattle vs Boise Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Data updated May 2026. Rent from Zillow ZORI, taxes from the Tax Foundation, cost-of-living index from BEA.
Seattle to Boise is a step out of the Pacific Northwest's biggest metro into a smaller, faster-growing one. The income tax actually moves the wrong direction.
Washington has no state income tax. Idaho charges a flat rate in the mid-single digits. Boise rent is well below Seattle's and the cost of living is lower, but Seattle's zero income tax is a real headline. Sales tax also runs lighter in Idaho.
Is Seattle or Boise cheaper to live in?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from Seattle to Boise frees up roughly $7,300 a year in disposable income. At $150,000 the gap narrows to about $4,700 a year in Boise's favor.
Boise wins on rent and cost of living. Seattle wins on income tax. For high earners, Seattle's zero income tax often outweighs Boise's housing savings. For moderate incomes, Boise's lower rent and overall cost usually carries the day.
DISPOSABLE INCOME: MOVING SEATTLE → BOISE
AT A $100,000 SALARY
in Boise's favor
AT A $150,000 SALARY
in Boise's favor
Assumes the same gross salary in both cities (the remote-work case) and a single filer renting at the local median. Positive means Boise leaves more money after tax, housing, and everyday costs.
Full cost breakdown: Seattle vs Boise
Here is where every dollar goes in each city, at two salary levels. Taxes, housing, and everyday costs are all in.
AT A $100,000 SALARY
| Line item | Seattle | Boise |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$15,000 | -$15,000 |
| State income tax (0%) Boise: (5.3%) | -$0 | -$5,300 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$7,650 | -$7,650 |
| Housing (median rent) ($1,720/mo) Boise: ($1,380/mo) | -$20,640 | -$16,560 |
| Other living costs (COL index 153) Boise: (COL index 104) | -$37,950 | -$30,600 |
| Sales tax on spending (9.4%) Boise: (6%) | -$2,497 | -$1,285 |
| Disposable income / year | $16,263 | $23,605 |
AT A $150,000 SALARY
| Line item | Seattle | Boise |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$27,000 | -$27,000 |
| State income tax (0%) Boise: (5.3%) | -$0 | -$7,950 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$11,475 | -$11,475 |
| Housing (median rent) ($1,720/mo) Boise: ($1,380/mo) | -$20,640 | -$16,560 |
| Other living costs (COL index 153) Boise: (COL index 104) | -$37,950 | -$30,600 |
| Sales tax on spending (9.4%) Boise: (6%) | -$2,497 | -$1,285 |
| Disposable income / year | $50,438 | $55,130 |
Seattle vs Boise: taxes, rent, and schools at a glance
| Metric | Seattle | Boise |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | None | 5.3% |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $1,720/mo | $1,380/mo |
| Combined sales tax | 9.4% | 6% |
| Cost-of-living index (US avg = 100) | 153 | 104 |
| School composite rating (1-10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Who should pick Seattle?
Stay in Seattle if you earn enough that no state income tax is a large number every year. Big-tech employers concentrate there, so the salaries that make this math work are common.
Who should pick Boise?
Pick Boise if your priority is lower fixed costs and you can accept paying a modest income tax. Rent, sales tax, and the cost of living are all lighter than Seattle, and the city is growing.
How we calculated this
Disposable income is gross salary minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, housing, everyday non-housing costs, and sales tax on discretionary spending. Federal tax uses 2026 effective rates after the standard deduction for a single filer. State income tax is a single-bracket approximation for mid-six-figure earners. Housing is the median 1-bedroom rent. Non-housing costs scale with the BEA cost-of-living index. Sales tax is applied to roughly 70 percent of discretionary spending, since groceries and many services are reduced-rate or exempt in most states.
The numbers on this page assume the same gross salary in both cities. That is the remote-work scenario, and it is the cleanest way to isolate the cost-of-living difference. If a new job would rebase your salary by city, plug both real offers into the tool below.
Run your own Seattle vs Boise numbers
The interactive Move-To-City tool lets you set different salaries for each city, enter your actual rent, switch filing status, and see the full FIRE-timeline impact of the move.
Open the Move-To-City tool →KEEP READING
Educational only, not financial advice. Cost-of-living estimates are modeled approximations from public data and will not match any individual budget exactly. Verify rent, tax, and salary figures for your own situation before making a move.