CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs Boise, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Appleton is moderately cheaper than Boise — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $85,200 in Boise. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+49.2%
Appleton
70.8
Boise
105.6
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Appleton
93.8
Boise
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Appleton
104.4
Boise
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Appleton
94.4
Boise
94
Utilities22.0%
Appleton
90.6
Boise
70.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Boise, ID
$85,200
$5,200 more needed in Boise

Formula: salary × (98.4 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 1.0649. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Boise, ID

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

Boise has 49.2% higher housing costs compared to Appleton.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

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).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% 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.