City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Boise City | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,223/mo | $1,314/mo | 6.9% lower in A |
| Median home value | $401,800 | $304,500 | 32.0% higher in A |
| Median household income | $76,402 | $71,673 | 6.6% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 102.2 | 97.2 | 5.1% higher in A |
| Utilities index | 122.0 | 92.4 | 32.1% higher in A |
| Transportation index | 100.6 | 98.6 | 2.0% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 98.6 | 97.4 | 1.3% higher in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Boise City, you'd need $98,998 in Chicago to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chicago, IL is about 1% cheaper overall than Boise City, ID, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 7% lower in Boise City than in Chicago. If you earn $80,000 in Boise City, you'd need about $79,199 in Chicago to keep the same standard of living.