City comparison
Boise City, ID vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 3.4% higher than in Boise City, ID. Someone earning $100,000 in Boise City, ID would need about $103,400 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,381 a month in Boise City, ID and $1,402 in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,044 a year higher in Boise City, ID than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Boise City, ID to Providence, RI ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +3.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.5% in real buying power.
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boise City, ID | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.4 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,437 in Providence | $96,677 in Boise City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,381/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,988 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,192 (ID) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,100 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boise City, ID and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boise City | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.6 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 98.4 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boise City, ID → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.3%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,044/yr.
58 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Boise City, ID
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,044/yr.
79 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boise City, ID is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Boise City, ID to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boise City, ID | Providence, RI | Real change, Boise City → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boise City, ID | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Boise City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,230 | $86,720 | $83,838 (+36.9%) |
| Software Developers | $131,590 | $130,690 | $126,347 (−4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,700 | $95,020 | $91,862 (+19.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,880 | $99,880 | $96,561 (−1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.