City Comparison

Boise vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boise

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

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

23.7%

Boise is 23.7% less expensive than Roseville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boise would need approximately $98,349 in Roseville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
118
Boise
179
Roseville
Groceries
99
Boise
105
Roseville
Utilities
89
Boise
163
Roseville
Transportation
99
Boise
134
Roseville
Healthcare
98
Boise
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Boise vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Boise's housing index of 118 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $625,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Boise compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Boise and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Boise vs $499/month in Roseville. Boise offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Boise and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Boise vs $652 in Roseville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Boise and 106 in Roseville. 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 $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,375 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville 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 $3,332/month in Roseville. In Boise, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 74 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 Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Boise's housing index is 118 with median homes at $420,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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