Boise, ID vs Portland, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Portland, OR is 7.1% more expensive than Boise, ID (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Boise works out to about $80,400 in Portland, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 18.5% more in Portland. Goods are 9.4% higher and other services 1.2% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 51.3% higher in Portland.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in Portland and $1,924 in Boise, $1,452 a year less in Portland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $539,000 in Portland and $492,000 in Boise.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Portland was 11.2% more expensive than Boise.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 18.5% higher in Portland than in Boise
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
All items Boise, ID: 98.4 Portland, OR: 105.4
Goods Boise, ID: 96.2 Portland, OR: 105.2
Housing (rents) Boise, ID: 105.6 Portland, OR: 125.1
Utilities Boise, ID: 70.7 Portland, OR: 107.0
Other services Boise, ID: 99.0 Portland, OR: 100.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.4 | 105.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.6 | 125.1 |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 100.1 |
| Category | Boise | Portland | Portland vs Boise |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.4 | 105.4 | +7.1% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.2 | +9.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.6 | 125.1 | +18.5% |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 107.0 | +51.3% |
| Other services | 99.0 | 100.1 | +1.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,924 | $1,803 | −6.3% |
| Typical home value | $492,000 | $539,000 | +9.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Boise | $75,000 | $80,400 | +7.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Boise and Portland has widened since 2008: 3.5 points then, 7.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.3 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 95.5 | 101.6 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 104.3 |
| 2013 | 96.4 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 102.1 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 93.2 | 101.5 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 93.6 | 107.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 106.4 |
| 2020 | 93.6 | 105.8 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 105.4 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 108.8 |
| 2023 | 94.2 | 106.7 |
| 2024 | 98.4 | 105.4 |
Goods
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 102.2 |
| 2010 | 97.9 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 100.7 |
| 2012 | 99.4 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 96.4 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 93.3 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 98.7 | 100.1 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 95.3 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 96.4 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 95.9 | 109.2 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.1 | 112.5 |
| 2009 | 88.1 | 114.0 |
| 2010 | 83.9 | 112.9 |
| 2011 | 82.4 | 113.4 |
| 2012 | 81.2 | 116.9 |
| 2013 | 86.5 | 116.1 |
| 2014 | 84.5 | 118.4 |
| 2015 | 80.2 | 123.1 |
| 2016 | 79.6 | 123.9 |
| 2017 | 82.2 | 129.7 |
| 2018 | 86.8 | 132.1 |
| 2019 | 91.3 | 131.2 |
| 2020 | 88.3 | 129.3 |
| 2021 | 97.3 | 127.8 |
| 2022 | 102.4 | 128.4 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 124.8 |
| 2024 | 105.6 | 125.1 |
Utilities
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.2 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 74.6 | 94.2 |
| 2010 | 78.9 | 87.3 |
| 2011 | 78.8 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 83.2 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 82.9 | 90.6 |
| 2014 | 85.4 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 86.9 | 105.0 |
| 2016 | 83.5 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 78.1 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 73.5 | 92.4 |
| 2019 | 74.6 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 75.1 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 68.0 | 97.4 |
| 2022 | 66.4 | 91.5 |
| 2023 | 68.0 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 70.7 | 107.0 |
Other services
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 103.0 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 100.4 | 102.5 |
| 2014 | 100.7 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 100.0 | 102.1 |
| 2016 | 99.0 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 100.1 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 95.5 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 101.7 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 91.9 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 91.7 | 104.3 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 103.9 |
| 2024 | 99.0 | 100.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in Portland vs $1,924 in Boise
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $886 | $1,124 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $911 | $1,169 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $924 | $1,211 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $917 | $1,209 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $942 | $1,232 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $973 | $1,269 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $987 | $1,277 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $979 | $1,267 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,006 | $1,299 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,048 | $1,330 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,067 | $1,335 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,058 | $1,316 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,091 | $1,328 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,135 | $1,362 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,155 | $1,370 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,152 | $1,363 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,182 | $1,380 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,223 | $1,407 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,235 | $1,423 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,233 | $1,410 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,260 | $1,425 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,274 | $1,428 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,325 | $1,454 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,372 | $1,434 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,448 | $1,463 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,583 | $1,540 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,635 | $1,599 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,613 | $1,608 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,651 | $1,633 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,729 | $1,700 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,730 | $1,729 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,668 | $1,703 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,696 | $1,722 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,717 | $1,724 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,701 | $1,719 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,669 | $1,686 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,707 | $1,711 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,745 | $1,757 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,748 | $1,767 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,718 | $1,741 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,743 | $1,752 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,787 | $1,781 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,788 | $1,783 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,770 | $1,757 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,814 | $1,767 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,870 | $1,789 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,924 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $539,000 in Portland vs $492,000 in Boise
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Boise, ID | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $190K | $292K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $195K | $299K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $198K | $309K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $202K | $321K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $207K | $333K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $213K | $345K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $217K | $352K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $222K | $360K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $228K | $370K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $234K | $377K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $238K | $381K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $245K | $384K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $253K | $392K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $263K | $397K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $274K | $399K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $283K | $400K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $292K | $404K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $298K | $406K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $304K | $406K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $314K | $411K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $326K | $421K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $335K | $424K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $346K | $430K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $376K | $451K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $423K | $473K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $474K | $497K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $493K | $510K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $499K | $521K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $515K | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $532K | $568K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $514K | $554K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $486K | $541K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $466K | $531K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $463K | $536K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $470K | $542K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $474K | $542K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $477K | $543K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $482K | $545K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $484K | $546K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $486K | $550K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $487K | $550K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $484K | $543K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $484K | $540K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $490K | $544K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $490K | $543K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $486K | $538K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $492K | $539K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.