Question 1

Is Boise or Seattle cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Boise, ID is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,253/month less than in Seattle, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,655/mo in Boise versus $2,501/mo in Seattle.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Boise vs Seattle?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $63,000/year before tax in Boise, ID and $85,000/year in Seattle, WA — a difference of about $22,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Boise or Seattle cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Boise, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $6,908/month in Boise and $8,905/month in Seattle, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Boise or Seattle?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Boise costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Boise74	Seattle60
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,490	$4,743
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$6,908	$8,905
Salary for comfort	$63,000/yr	$85,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,655	$2,501
Median home value	$456,000	$912,100
Median household income	$81,308	$121,984
Unemployment	3.2%	4.5%
Housing score	48	35
Jobs score	70	36
Safety score	78	40
Climate score	100	92
Amenities score	39	90
Population	235.7K	741.4K
Summer high / winter low	91° / 25°	76° / 37°

Boise, ID vs Seattle, WA