City comparison
Boise City, ID vs Durham, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Boise City, ID (98.4) and Durham, NC (97.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Boise City, ID goes as far as $99,200 in Durham, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Durham, NC versus $1,381 in Boise City, ID. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Durham, NC and 22% in Boise City, ID.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $710 a year higher in Boise City, ID than in Durham, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Boise City, ID to Durham, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.3% in real buying power.
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
- Durham, NC: price level 97.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boise City, ID | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.4 | 97.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,168 in Durham | $100,839 in Boise City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,381/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,988 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,192 (ID) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,100 | $60,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boise City, ID and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boise City | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.6 | 98.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 98.4 | 97.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boise City, ID → Durham, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$710/yr.
71 Strong offer
Durham, NC → Boise City, ID
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$710/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boise City, ID is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Durham, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Boise City, ID to Durham, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boise City, ID | Durham, NC | Real change, Boise City → Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +5.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +5.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +5.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +5.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +5.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boise City, ID | Durham, NC | Durham pay in Boise City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,230 | $51,400 | $51,831 (−15.3%) |
| Software Developers | $131,590 | $135,620 | $136,758 (+3.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,700 | $85,090 | $85,804 (+11.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,880 | not published | — |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.