Example household · Billings, MT · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Boise skyline

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Billings vs Boise

Billings and Boise

Photo: Abhinavp235 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Boise are under the US rate in this release, 1.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Billings to Boise

In 2022-2023, 37 households filed a move from Billings to Boise (about 64 people, average adjusted gross income $73,892). 40 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,101 in Billings and $1,383 in Boise. Billings has a state tax on wages. Boise has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Boise is 90% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Billings.

Boise averages 206 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 25°F. Billings is 212 sunny days, 87°F in July, 17°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Boise and 20 in Billings.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 37 households moved Billings → Boise (about 64 people, average AGI $73,892). 40 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Billings and Boise changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 485 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,050–$3,900
Container or pod
$1,450–$2,700
Rent a truck
$650–$1,250

Movers in Boise and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Boise cheaper than Billings after tax and rent?

No. Boise leaves about $256 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,101 in Billings and $1,383 in Boise.

Does Boise have state income tax?

Boise is in Idaho, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Billings to Boise?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.