CostIndexUSA

Ann Arbor, MI vs Boise, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
More AffordableID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Boise is slightly cheaper than Ann Arbor — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ann Arbor, you would need $78,000 in Boise. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing15.7%
Ann Arbor
125.3
Boise
105.6
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Ann Arbor
93.7
Boise
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Ann Arbor
104.5
Boise
103.9
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Ann Arbor
94.6
Boise
94
Utilities28.0%
Ann Arbor
98.2
Boise
70.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ann Arbor to see what you'd need to earn in Boise to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Boise, ID
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Boise

Formula: salary × (98.4 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9752. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Home Price
$398,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
125.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Boise, ID

Median Home Price
$479,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

Ann Arbor has 15.7% lower housing costs compared to Boise.

Income & Job Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
123,851
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareManufacturingResearch

Boise, ID

Median Household Income
$82,500
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
235,984
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingFinanceAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ann Arbor, MI
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Boise, ID
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.