Housing, taxes and pay compared with the Seattle area
By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Nov 1, 20266 sources
Housing is far cheaper in the Boise metro than in Seattle, but you will pay a new income tax. A typical home is about $720,000 in the Seattle metro against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and a typical rent is $2,250 against $1,924. Idaho's flat 5.3% income tax is new if you earn wages, though its average combined sales tax is lower (6.03% against 9.57%). The minimum wage is $7.25 against Washington's $17.13.
| Metro | Typical home value | Typical rent (all rentals) | Median household income, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $492,000 | $1,924 | $92,877 |
| Seattle, WA | $720,000 | $2,250 | $120,018 |
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 | Washington | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax on wages | None | 5.3% flat on all your income once you live here; Social Security is not taxed |
| Sales tax (average combined) | 9.57% | 6.03%; groceries are taxed, with a $155 food tax credit per person |
| Minimum wage, 2026 | $17.13 statewide; some cities set higher rates | $7.25, the federal rate |
| Car taxes | Seattle-area drivers pay Sound Transit's 1.1% tax on depreciated value | $21 title plus $45 to $69 a year in state registration by age, plus county fees; no value-based fee |
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, even if your employer is in Washington. Ask your employer to start Idaho withholding, or make estimated payments.
Take your Washington title and ID to the sheriff's license office and the county assessor's motor vehicle office.
If you have large investment gains or a large estate, ask a tax professional about timing and residency before you sell or move.
File Form 43 for your move year, due April 15. Washington has no personal income tax return to file on wages.
For housing, yes, by a wide margin. A typical home is about $720,000 in Seattle against $492,000 in the Boise metro, and typical rent is $2,250 against $1,924 (Zillow, Sept 2026). Median household income in 2025 was $120,018 in the Seattle metro against $92,877 in the Boise metro (Census ACS), so compare your expected pay before you count the savings.
On wages, yes. Washington has no tax on wages, and Idaho taxes income at a flat 5.3%. That is partly offset by a lower sales tax (6.03% against 9.57% on average), no Sound Transit car tax and a $155 food tax credit, and by housing that costs far less than in the Seattle area. The net effect depends on your income and spending, so run your own numbers.
It depends on your job. Idaho's $7.25 minimum wage is far below Washington's $17.13, but private-sector pay in the Boise area averages about $38.02 an hour, about even with the nation (Sept 2026). Boise is on Mountain Time, one hour ahead of Washington.
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