CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Louisville, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Louisville
93.1
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Louisville is moderately cheaper than Boise — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boise, you would need $75,700 in Louisville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.6%
Boise
105.6
Louisville
78.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Boise
96.2
Louisville
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.2%
Boise
103.9
Louisville
101.6
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Boise
94
Louisville
92
Utilities+6.1%
Boise
70.7
Louisville
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Louisville, KY
$75,700
$4,300 less needed in Louisville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9461. 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×

Louisville, KY

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Boise has 25.6% lower housing costs compared to Louisville.

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

Louisville, KY

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
633,045
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsEducationAgriculture

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)

Louisville, KY
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.