City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Boise City, ID
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 6.2% higher than in Boise City, ID. Someone earning $100,000 in Boise City, ID would need about $106,200 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $1,381 in Boise City, ID. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 22% in Boise City, ID.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,386 a year in MD and $4,192 in ID.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Boise City, ID ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.2% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Boise City, ID | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 98.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,166 in Boise City | $106,196 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,381/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,988 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,192 (ID) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $49,100 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Boise City, ID.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Boise City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 105.6 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 70.7 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 98.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Boise City, ID
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$195/yr.
88 Strong offer
Boise City, ID → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$195/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Boise City, ID is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Boise City, ID at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Boise City, ID | Real change, Baltimore → Boise City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −7.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −7.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −7.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −7.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −7.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Boise City, ID | Boise City pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $61,230 | $65,024 (−14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $131,590 | $139,743 (+0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $76,700 | $81,452 (−4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $97,880 | $103,944 (+4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.