By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Oct 23, 202615 sources
In short
Most West Coast movers pay much less for housing in the Boise area, and Californians and Oregonians usually pay less income tax. Washingtonians will pay a new 5.3% state income tax, and Oregonians a new 6% sales tax. Laws differ sharply too: marijuana is illegal, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and adults can carry a concealed gun without a permit.
Income tax
Idaho 5.3% flat; CA up to 13.3%, OR up to 9.9%, WA none on wages
Sales tax
Idaho 6.03% average, groceries included; CA 9.03%, WA 9.57%, OR none
Typical home
About $492,000 in the Boise metro vs $539,000 Portland, $720,000 Seattle, $950,000 Los Angeles
Marijuana
Illegal in Idaho, including possession of small amounts
Deadline
30 days to get an Idaho license and register your car
01
How do Boise housing and prices compare with the West Coast?
Metro
Typical home value
Typical rent (all rentals)
Overall prices (U.S. = 100)
Top state income tax
Boise, ID
$492,000
$1,924
98.4
5.3% flat
Los Angeles, CA
$950,000
$2,929
113.6
13.3%
San Francisco, CA
$1,120,000
$3,445
115.6
13.3%
San Jose, CA
$1,524,000
$3,812
110.4
13.3%
San Diego, CA
$927,000
$2,967
111.9
13.3%
Sacramento, CA
$573,000
$2,269
106.7
13.3%
Fresno, CA
$404,000
$2,052
102.2
13.3%
Seattle, WA
$720,000
$2,250
111.1
None on wages
Spokane, WA
$415,000
$1,512
100.3
None on wages
Portland, OR
$539,000
$1,803
105.4
9.9%
Bend, OR
$658,000
$2,218
103.6
9.9%
Metro areas. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, all rentals, Sept 2026. Price index: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. Tax: top rate as of Jan 1, 2026. Fresno and Spokane cost about the same as Boise or less, so not every West Coast move saves money. Source: BEA, Zillow, Zillow, Tax Foundation
02
What changes when you move from CA, WA or OR?
Will I pay more or less tax?
It depends on where you come from. Idaho taxes income at a flat 5.3%, well below California's top rate of 13.3% and Oregon's 9.9%. Coming from Washington, which has no tax on wages, Idaho's income tax is a new cost. Idaho's sales tax is 6% statewide, with almost no local add-ons, compared with average combined rates of about 9% in California and Washington. Oregon has no sales tax, so Oregonians will notice the 6% at every store. Idaho taxes groceries, but each resident gets a $155 food tax credit. Social Security benefits are not taxed.
What does it cost to register my car?
Usually less. A passenger car in Idaho pays a $21 title fee plus $45 to $69 a year in state registration based on age, plus county and road fees. Idaho does not charge a value-based car tax. California charges a vehicle license fee of 0.65% of the car's value each year, and Seattle-area drivers pay Sound Transit's 1.1% tax on depreciated value. If you owned the car at least 3 months before moving, you usually owe no Idaho sales tax on it. You have 30 days to title and register.
Can I bring cannabis from Oregon or Washington?
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. Do not pack it in the moving truck, and do not drive it back from an Oregon dispensary.
How is abortion law different?
California, Oregon and Washington protect access to abortion. Idaho bans abortion at all stages, with narrow exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant woman, and for rape or incest in the first trimester when it is reported to police. Doctors who perform a banned abortion face felony charges; the woman is not charged. Court cases over the exceptions continue, so ask a doctor or lawyer about your situation.
How are gun laws different?
Idaho is much less restrictive. Adults 18 and older who can legally own a gun may carry concealed without a permit, in cities and in the country. California, Oregon and Washington require a permit to carry concealed. Guns are still banned in some places, such as courthouses and jails. Idaho still issues concealed weapons licenses for people who want to carry in other states.
Do I pump my own gas?
Yes. Idaho stations are self-serve. Oregon only began allowing self-serve at most stations in 2023, and even now stations there may make only up to half their pumps self-serve.
Anything else that surprises West Coast movers?
Liquor is sold only in state liquor stores, as in Oregon but not California or Washington; beer and wine are in grocery stores. Drivers must be hands-free with phones. Cyclists can treat stop signs as yield signs. Transit is limited, so most households need a car for each driver.
What is the weather like compared with the coast?
Drier, sunnier and more extreme. Boise gets about 11.5 inches of precipitation a year, much less than Seattle or Portland, with about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and real winter cold, averaging 38.8°F highs in January. Snow averages 17.6 inches. Wildfire smoke drifts in during late summer in some years, as it does across the West.
What about politics and culture?
Idaho is one of the most Republican states. Republicans hold every statewide office and large majorities in the Legislature, which shapes state law on taxes, guns, abortion, schools and public health. The city of Boise votes more Democratic than the rest of the state. Day to day, newcomers often describe the valley as friendly, family-centered and outdoorsy, with a slower pace than big West Coast cities. Growth is a sore point: in Boise State's 2021 Treasure Valley survey, a large majority of residents said the valley is growing too fast.
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