Boise vs Salt Lake City
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Boise, ID | Salt Lake City, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $540K | $580K |
| Median single-family | $560K | $694K |
| Median condo | $320K | $387K |
| Median $/sq ft | $320 | $373 |
| Median days on market | 11 | 27 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 100.4% | 99.6% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,130 | 2,680 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 15,385 | 13,734 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Boise is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $540K versus $580K in Salt Lake City, roughly 7% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 3,130 square feet in Boise at the median price per square foot, versus about 2,680 in Salt Lake City. Boise homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 27 in Salt Lake City. Idaho has a 5.3% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Utah has a 4.45% flat income tax (tax year 2026). In 2024 about 15,000 Californians moved to Idaho and about 14,000 to Utah (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Boise: 5.3% flat rate (tax year 2026). Salt Lake City: 4.45% flat rate (tax year 2026). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Boise and moving from LA to Salt Lake City.
Common questions
Is Boise or Salt Lake City cheaper?
Boise had the lower median sale price, about $540K versus $580K in Salt Lake City (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 7% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Boise or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City has the lower state income tax. Utah has a 4.45% flat income tax (tax year 2026). By comparison, Idaho has a 5.3% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Boise vs Salt Lake City?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,130 square feet in Boise and 2,680 in Salt Lake City, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
