Moving to Idaho from Texas

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Texas to Idaho — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Texas to Idaho, you would find that Idaho is 2.4% cheaper than Texas. A $75,000 salary in Texas would need to be roughly $75,588 in Idaho to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Boise averages 64°F vs 79°F in Austin, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Texas to Idaho.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $75,588

To maintain the same standard of living in Idaho

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 3.0% less

Groceries

pay 0.6% more

Transportation

pay 3.3% less

Housing

pay 8.8% less

Childcare

pay 3.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 10.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Texas to Idaho.

Is it safe?

Violent crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

TX
391
ID
226
Property crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

TX
2153
ID
784

Idaho performs significantly better than Texas across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Uninsured rate US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of people without health insurance

TX
16.0%
ID
8.5%
Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

TX
36.8%
ID
33.5%

Idaho performs significantly better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about housing?

Median home value US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical price of a home

TX
$260,400
ID
$376,000
Median rent US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical monthly gross rent

TX
$1,339
ID
$1,150

Idaho generally does better on what about housing?, though Texas leads in median home value.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

TX
90.1%
ID
91.3%
Average commute US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

minutes each way to work

TX
27 min
ID
22 min

Idaho performs significantly better than Texas across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TX
3.9%
ID
3.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

TX
$70,071
ID
$49,054

Texas generally does better on employment & economy, though Idaho leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

TX
76.5 yrs
ID
78.4 yrs
Bachelor's degree or higher US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of adults with a 4-year college degree

TX
20%
ID
19%

Texas generally does better on family life, though Idaho leads in life expectancy.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Austin Rain: 36.2 in/yr (920 mm)
79° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Boise Rain: 11.7 in/yr (298 mm)
64° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Austin Boise
Jan–Mar 65°/40°F (18°/5°C) 46°/29°F (8°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 72°/47°F (22°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/70°F (34°/21°C) 87°/57°F (30°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) 50°/32°F (10°/0°C)
View all months
Month Austin Boise
Jan 61°/37°F (15.9°/2.9°C) 38°/25°F (3.2°/-4.1°C)
Feb 64°/39°F (17.6°/3.8°C) 45°/28°F (7.1°/-2.1°C)
Mar 71°/45°F (21.6°/7.4°C) 55°/34°F (12.6°/1.3°C)
Apr 79°/55°F (25.9°/12.8°C) 62°/39°F (16.8°/4.1°C)
May 85°/64°F (29.7°/17.7°C) 72°/47°F (22.0°/8.1°C)
Jun 91°/70°F (32.8°/21.0°C) 81°/54°F (27.4°/12.1°C)
Jul 94°/72°F (34.7°/22.3°C) 91°/60°F (32.9°/15.8°C)
Aug 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.1°C) 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C)
Sep 90°/67°F (32.3°/19.2°C) 79°/51°F (26.0°/10.6°C)
Oct 81°/57°F (27.3°/13.7°C) 65°/41°F (18.2°/4.9°C)
Nov 71°/47°F (21.4°/8.4°C) 48°/32°F (9.0°/-0.1°C)
Dec 62°/38°F (16.5°/3.4°C) 38°/24°F (3.1°/-4.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho than Texas?

Costs in Idaho and Texas are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Idaho?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,897 in Idaho on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit).

Is Idaho safe?

Idaho performs significantly better than Texas across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Idaho compared to Texas?

Idaho performs significantly better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Idaho compared to Texas?

The average high temperature in Boise is 64°F, compared to 79°F in Austin. Boise receives around 11.7 in of rainfall per year, while Austin gets 36.2 in.

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