CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
NC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Boise and Raleigh have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.0%
Boise
105.6
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Boise
96.2
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.8%
Boise
103.9
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Boise
94
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities+25.9%
Boise
70.7
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$79,800
$200 less needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9980. 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×

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Boise has 2.0% lower housing costs compared to Raleigh.

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

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

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)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.