Uprootmap
Helena vs Boise
Helena and Boise
Photo: Abhinavp235 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
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 Helena to Boise
In 2022-2023, 31 households filed a move from Helena to Boise (about 47 people, average adjusted gross income $53,258). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,263 in Helena and $1,383 in Boise. Helena 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 96% in Helena.
Boise averages 206 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 25°F. Helena is 197 sunny days, 89°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Boise and 19 in Helena.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 31 households moved Helena → Boise (about 47 people, average AGI $53,258). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
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 Helena and Boise changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 387 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,950–$3,650
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,500
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
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Dig into Boise
Questions
Is Boise cheaper than Helena after tax and rent?
No. Boise leaves about $149 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,263 in Helena and $1,383 in Boise.
Does Boise have state income tax?
Boise is in Idaho, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Helena 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.