CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Boise — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boise, you would need $78,900 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.1%
Boise
105.6
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries+3.6%
Boise
96.2
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Boise
103.9
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.2%
Boise
94
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+88.4%
Boise
70.7
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9858. 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×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Boise has 17.1% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, NY
4.1×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.