A lower income tax, a new sales tax and smaller housing savings
By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Oct 23, 202612 sources
Oregonians usually pay less income tax in Idaho (a flat 5.3% against Oregon's top rate of 9.9%) but pay a sales tax for the first time, about 6.03% on average, groceries included. Housing is cheaper than in Bend but only a little cheaper than in Portland, and Idaho's $7.25 minimum wage is far below Oregon's $15.55 standard rate. Marijuana is legal in Oregon and illegal in Idaho.
| Topic | Oregon | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Up to 9.9% | 5.3% flat; Social Security is not taxed |
| Sales tax (average combined) | None | 6.03%; groceries are taxed, with a $155 food tax credit per person |
| Minimum wage, 2026 | $15.55 standard from July 1; $16.80 in the Portland metro and $14.55 in nonurban counties | $7.25, the federal rate |
| Pumping gas | Self-serve allowed at most stations since 2023, with up to half the pumps self-serve | Stations are self-serve |
| Liquor | Sold in state-licensed liquor stores | Sold only in Idaho State Liquor Division stores; beer and wine in grocery stores |
| Concealed carry | Permit required | No permit needed for most adults 18 and older |
| Marijuana | Legal for adults | Illegal for any use, with no medical program |
Tax rates are top state rates as of Jan. 1, 2026 and average combined sales tax rates for midyear 2026 (Tax Foundation). Oregon's minimum wage changes each July 1. Source: Tax Foundation, Oregon BOLI, Idaho Department of Labor
| Metro | Typical home value | Typical rent (all rentals) | Top state income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $492,000 | $1,924 | 5.3% flat |
| Portland, OR | $539,000 | $1,803 | 9.9% |
| Bend, OR | $658,000 | $2,218 | 9.9% |
Metro areas. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, all rentals, Sept 2026. Tax: top rate as of Jan 1, 2026. Portland costs about as much as Boise, so not every Oregon move saves money. Source: Zillow, Zillow, Tax Foundation
Oregon has no sales tax, so you will notice Idaho's 6% at every store, groceries included. Each resident gets a $155 food tax credit when filing.
Take your Oregon title and ID to the sheriff's license office and the county assessor's motor vehicle office.
Marijuana is illegal in Idaho even if you bought it legally in Oregon. Do not pack it in the moving truck.
File Form 43 for your move year, due April 15, and an Oregon part-year return for the income you earned there.
Usually less income tax and more sales tax. Idaho's flat 5.3% is well below Oregon's top rate of 9.9%, but Oregon has no sales tax and Idaho charges about 6.03% on average, groceries included. Idaho gives each resident a $155 food tax credit to offset it. The net effect depends on how much you earn and spend, so run your own numbers.
It depends on where you leave. A typical home is about $492,000 in the Boise metro against $539,000 in Portland and $658,000 in Bend, and a typical rent is about $1,924 against $1,803 in Portland and $2,218 in Bend (Zillow, Sept 2026). Bend movers save the most.
It depends on your job. Idaho's $7.25 minimum wage is far below Oregon's, but private-sector pay in the Boise area averages about $38.02 an hour, about even with the nation (Sept 2026). If you keep working remotely for an Oregon employer, Idaho taxes all your wages once you live here.
No. Marijuana is illegal in Idaho for any use, and possession of any amount is a crime even if you bought it legally. There is no medical program. CBD is allowed only with zero THC.
Idaho stations are self-serve and drivers must be hands-free with phones. Liquor is sold in state liquor stores, as in Oregon. Public transit is limited, so most households need a car for each driver. Boise is also drier and sunnier than western Oregon, with about 11.5 inches of precipitation a year.
Fees, rules and providers change. Confirm with the official source before you go.
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