City comparison
Ann Arbor, MI vs Boise City, ID
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Ann Arbor, MI are 2.5% higher than in Boise City, ID. Someone earning $100,000 in Boise City, ID would need about $102,500 in Ann Arbor, MI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,387 a month in Ann Arbor, MI and $1,381 in Boise City, ID.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,999 a year in MI and $4,192 in ID.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.3% moving from Ann Arbor, MI to Boise City, ID ($117,402 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.0% in real buying power.
- Ann Arbor, MI: price level 100.9 (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
| Ann Arbor, MI | Boise City, ID | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 98.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,533 in Boise City | $102,530 in Ann Arbor |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,387/mo | $1,381/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $74,988 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $4,192 (ID) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,380 | $49,100 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ann Arbor, MI MSA and Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ann Arbor, MI and Boise City, ID.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ann Arbor | Boise City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.3 | 105.6 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 98.2 | 70.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 98.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ann Arbor, MI → Boise City, ID
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$192/yr.
77 Strong offer
Boise City, ID → Ann Arbor, MI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$192/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ann Arbor, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Boise City, ID is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Ann Arbor, MI to Boise City, ID at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ann Arbor, MI | Boise City, ID | Real change, Ann Arbor → Boise City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $61,722 | −7.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $74,678 | −7.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $89,508 | −7.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $106,437 | −7.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $125,776 | −7.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ann Arbor, MI | Boise City, ID | Boise City pay in Ann Arbor dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,060 | $61,230 | $62,779 (−2.0%) |
| Software Developers | $126,830 | $131,590 | $134,919 (+6.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $76,700 | $78,640 (−1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,450 | $97,880 | $100,356 (−3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.