That means that the cost of living in Boise is in line with the U.S. Looking around the greater Boise area, it's not hard to see why the City of Trees is drawing attention. Surrounded by picturesque hills and snow-capped mountains, Boise has an outdoor vibe with enough culture and industry from the metropolitan area to please just about everyone. Commutes to work are short, outdoor recreation is plentiful, and amenities such as the famous Boise River Green Belt and the city's expansive parks have attracted attention from across the country.
If you ask a new Boise transplant where they come from, many of them will list places like Southern California, Western Oregon and Washington. Californians represent the highest percentage of new residents in Idaho, and Washington newcomers rank second highest in overall population influx. If you ask the reasons they're moving, you'll hear the cost of living at the top. Home prices in Boise have risen nearly 20% over the past year, but we forecast the Boise market heading for greater equilibrium in the coming months.
Good news for all potential homebuyers. In both Sacramento and Seattle, house prices are the main factor in an inflated cost of living. Seattle's housing costs are indexed at 224, meaning that a home in Seattle will cost you more than double what a home in Boise will cost you. So, while the cost of housing in Boise has increased in recent years, the market is still incredibly affordable compared to many other Western cities.
Whether you're planning to rent or buy, you'll end up paying for energy and other utilities, such as water, sewer, and garbage. The good news is that general public services in Idaho cost consistently less than the national average. The Boise Utility Index is 82, meaning that the typical cost of city services is 18% lower than the national average. Here is a brief breakdown of typical utility costs in Boise.
Just in recent years, popular supermarket chains have joined the Boise area, such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Boise-based supermarket chain Winco is the leader in low prices in the area. On the other end of the spectrum, you'll find Albertsons, also based in Boise. Fred Meyers, Wal-Mart and Costco also have a sizeable presence in the Treasure Valley area, providing ample access to affordable and varied grocery options for area residents.
Gas prices in Boise tend to be similar to or slightly higher than the national average and change with demand in a somewhat small regional market, leading many residents to bike or carpool for work. Boise is known for its active community and increasingly bike-friendly roads, making cycling a popular way to get to work in the city center. Health care costs in Boise are slightly higher than the national average. Health care costs consider the standard daily rate for a hospital room, the costs of a doctor's office visit, and a dental checkup.
After all, Boise's healthcare cost ratio is 1% higher than the national average. Boise has the added benefit of extensive access to health facilities, including the current expansion of St. The Luke Center Campus and St. Alphonsus Medical Group Hospital and Healthcare Provider Network.
Luke's is working to expand and improve its Children's Hospital, while St. Alphonsus recently opened a new birthing center in Nampa. Boise is famous for being business-friendly, with low tax rates and little regulation, which tempts large companies to choose the city for their headquarters and entrepreneurs to select Boise as the home of their startups. Get Boise area listing updates for the first time, save favorites & much more Already have a We Know Boise account? Log in.
Just a few years ago, Boise, Idaho, was ranked as one of the most affordable places to live in the United States. The news of this apparently spread quickly, almost too quickly. More people than ever before started moving to Boise for all its charm, appeal and affordability. So many people have moved here in recent years that it is now to the point where Boise is one of the LEAST affordable places to live in all of North America.
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