City comparison
Albany, NY vs Boise City, ID
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 1.2% higher than in Boise City, ID. Someone earning $100,000 in Boise City, ID would need about $101,200 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,417 a month in Albany, NY and $1,381 in Boise City, ID.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $668 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Boise City, ID.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Boise City, ID ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- 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
| Albany, NY | Boise City, ID | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 98.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,820 in Boise City | $101,194 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,381/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,988 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,192 (ID) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $49,100 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Boise City, ID.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Boise City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 105.6 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 70.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 98.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Boise City, ID
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$668/yr.
72 Strong offer
Boise City, ID → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$668/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Boise City, ID is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Boise City, ID at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Boise City, ID | Real change, Albany → Boise City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Boise City, ID | Boise City pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $61,230 | $61,961 (−21.8%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $131,590 | $133,161 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $76,700 | $77,616 (−8.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $97,880 | $99,049 (−0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.