Housing, taxes and pay compared with the Portland area
By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Nov 1, 20266 sources
Moving from Portland to Boise changes your taxes more than your housing bill. A typical home is about $539,000 in the Portland metro against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and a typical rent is $1,803 against $1,924. Idaho's flat 5.3% income tax is lower than Oregon's top rate of 9.9%, but you will pay a sales tax for the first time (about 6.03% on average, groceries included). Idaho's minimum wage is $7.25 against $16.80 in the Portland metro.
| Metro | Typical home value | Typical rent (all rentals) | Median household income, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $492,000 | $1,924 | $92,877 |
| Portland, OR | $539,000 | $1,803 | $99,767 |
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 | 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 |
| 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); 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
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.
Housing costs are close, so the savings come mostly from income tax. A typical home is about $539,000 in Portland against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and typical rent is $1,803 against $1,924 (Zillow, Sept 2026). Median household income in 2025 was $99,767 in the Portland metro against $92,877 in the Boise metro (Census ACS), so compare your expected pay before you count the savings.
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 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.
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