CICostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Racine, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,900/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,425/mo rent

Racine is slightly cheaper than Boise — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boise, you would need $78,000 in Racine. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.9%
Boise
105.6
Racine
92
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Boise
96.2
Racine
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Boise
103.9
Racine
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Boise
94
Racine
94.4
Utilities+27.3%
Boise
70.7
Racine
90

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Racine, WI
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Racine

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9756. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boise, ID

Median Home Price
$497,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
105.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.8×

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$319,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.7×

Boise has 12.9% lower housing costs compared to Racine.

Income & Job Market

Boise, ID

Median Household Income
$88,700
Per Capita Income
$50,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
235,984
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingFinanceAgriculture

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

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

74% of income left after rent (median)

Racine, WI
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.