City Comparison

Boise vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boise

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

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

15.2%

Living in Twin Falls costs 15.2% less than Boise. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Boise, you would need $65,094 in Twin Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
118
Boise
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
99
Boise
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
89
Boise
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
99
Boise
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
98
Boise
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Boise has the same purchasing power as $65,094 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $86,413 in Boise.

Living in Boise vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Boise's housing index of 118 is higher Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $380,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Boise compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Boise and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Boise vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 85 in Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Boise vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Boise and 94 in Twin Falls. 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 $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,375 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls 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 $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Boise, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Twin Falls is 15.2% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Boise has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,094 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Boise's housing index is 118 with median homes at $420,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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