Head to head
Boise, ID vs Glendale, AZ
Boise is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $45/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $1,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Glendale is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Boise74 | Glendale62 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,970 | $4,015 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,850 | $9,549 |
| Salary for comfort | $73,500/yr | $72,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,655 | $1,397 |
| Median home value | $456,000 | $347,000 |
| Median household income | $81,308 | $70,139 |
| Unemployment | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| Housing score | 46 | 58 |
| Jobs score | 76 | 14 |
| Safety score | 78 | 57 |
| Climate score | 100 | 72 |
| Amenities score | 39 | 79 |
| Population | 235.7K | 250.2K |
| Summer high / winter low | 91° / 25° | 106° / 46° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Boise, ID
Glendale, AZ