on $100k a year, leaving Chicago
changea dispatch from
boise
ID
43.62°N
116.20°W
Boise is basically Denver before Denver got Denver-y: walkable downtown, foothills you can run into on your lunch break, and a river slicing right through the middle of town. The Basque Block downtown anchors the biggest Basque community in the U.S., which nobody sees coming. The vibe is 'we close our laptops and go outside,' and the trails make that very easy to do. Locals would prefer you didn't tell anyone.
in our guides
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than Chicago
Boise gives you room Chicago doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,794/mo
17% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
5.8%
$71/mo more in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,056/mo
$305 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$490k
34% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
827k
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
166
pleasant days a year, in boise.
Chicago keeps to 153 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 27 days top 95° vs Chicago's 1.
Noticeably quieter than Chicago. About 97% fewer events on a typical month.
82/100
17% higher than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Sawtooth National Forest, 48.9 mi.
96/100
4% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
16
93% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
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