CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Fontana, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CA
Fontana
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Boise is moderately cheaper than Fontana — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boise, you would need $86,500 in Fontana. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.4%
Boise
105.6
Fontana
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.4%
Boise
96.2
Fontana
101.4
🚗 Transportation+2.3%
Boise
103.9
Fontana
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Boise
94
Fontana
96.2
Utilities+110.2%
Boise
70.7
Fontana
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fontana, CA
$86,500
$6,500 more needed in Fontana

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 1.0813. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boise, ID

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

Fontana, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Fontana has 22.4% higher housing costs compared to Boise.

Income & Job Market

Boise, ID

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

Fontana, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
214,547
Top Industries
ManufacturingLogisticsHealthcareRetailConstruction

Affordability at a Glance

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

Boise, ID
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Fontana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.