CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Yakima is slightly cheaper than Boise — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boise, you would need $77,600 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.2%
Boise
105.6
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+9.1%
Boise
96.2
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Boise
103.9
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Boise
94
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+30.0%
Boise
70.7
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9705. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Boise has 31.2% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.