City Comparison

Boise vs Franklin

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boise

Idaho
106
Above Average
$420,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$60,818
Median Income

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

The Verdict

23.7%

Living in Boise costs 23.7% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Boise, you would need $98,349 in Franklin.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
118
Boise
230
Franklin
Groceries
99
Boise
100
Franklin
Utilities
89
Boise
97
Franklin
Transportation
99
Boise
90
Franklin
Healthcare
98
Boise
91
Franklin

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Boise has the same purchasing power as $98,349 in Franklin.

Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $57,194 in Boise.

Living in Boise vs Franklin

Housing Costs

Boise's housing index of 118 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $750,000. The $330,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Boise compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Boise and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Boise vs $475/month in Franklin. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Boise and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Boise vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Boise and 91 in Franklin. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $60,818 in Boise and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,375 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,419/month to housing in Boise vs $2,758/month in Franklin. In Boise, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 112 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Boise is 23.7% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Boise has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $98,349 in Franklin, based on the cost of living difference.
Boise's housing index is 118 with median homes at $420,000, while Franklin's is 230 with median homes at $750,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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