Housing, taxes and pay compared with the Phoenix area
By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Nov 1, 20266 sources
Housing is not the reason to move from Phoenix to Boise. A typical home is about $441,000 in the Phoenix metro against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and a typical rent is $1,720 against $1,924. Your income tax would rise from Arizona's flat 2.5% to Idaho's flat 5.3%, and the minimum wage falls from $15.15 to $7.25, but the average combined sales tax is lower (6.03% against 8.54%).
| Metro | Typical home value | Typical rent (all rentals) | Median household income, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $492,000 | $1,924 | $92,877 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $441,000 | $1,720 | $91,093 |
Metro areas. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, all rentals, Sept 2026. Income: median household income, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2025 1-year estimate, which is a different measure from your own pay. Source: Zillow Research: Home values and rents, U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2025 1-year, median household income (B19013)
| Topic | Arizona | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 2.5% flat | 5.3% flat; Social Security is not taxed |
| Sales tax (average combined) | 8.54% | 6.03%; groceries are taxed, with a $155 food tax credit per person |
| Minimum wage, 2026 | $15.15 statewide | $7.25, the federal rate |
Tax rates are top state rates as of Jan. 1, 2026 and average combined sales tax rates for midyear 2026 (Tax Foundation); local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages are state rates (U.S. Department of Labor, updated July 1, 2026). Source: Tax Foundation: State income tax rates, 2026, Tax Foundation: State and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026, U.S. Department of Labor: State minimum wage laws
Idaho taxes all your income at 5.3% once you live here, up from Arizona's flat 2.5%. Ask your employer to update your withholding, or make estimated payments.
Take your Arizona title and ID to the sheriff's license office and the county assessor's motor vehicle office.
File Form 43 for your move year, due April 15, and a part-year Arizona return for the income you earned there.
Register to vote in Idaho and switch your car and home insurance to Idaho policies.
Not for housing. A typical home is about $441,000 in Phoenix against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and typical rent is $1,720 against $1,924 (Zillow, Sept 2026). Median household income in 2025 was $91,093 in the Phoenix metro against $92,877 in the Boise metro (Census ACS), so compare your expected pay before you count the savings.
Probably more income tax and less sales tax. Idaho's flat 5.3% is above Arizona's flat 2.5%, but Idaho's average combined sales tax is lower (6.03% against 8.54%), and Idaho gives each resident a $155 food tax credit. The net effect depends on how much you earn and spend, so run your own numbers.
Within 30 days, get an Idaho driver's license at a sheriff's license office and register your vehicles at the county assessor's motor vehicle office. Then register to vote, switch your car and home insurance to Idaho policies, and file an Idaho part-year return (Form 43, due April 15).
Fees, rules and providers change. Confirm with the official source before you go.
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