Boise City McAllen-Edinburg-Mission

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 98.4 → 85.9
Rent Delta: -$595/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 12% lower cost of living
  • + $595/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - $12K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Boise City to McAllen-Edinburg-Mission shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 98.4 to 85.9 (100 = US average), so a Boise City salary needs to be multiplied by 0.87 to hold the same purchasing power in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,655/month in Boise City to $1,060/month in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission - a lower monthly bill of $595, or $7,140/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $67,378 in Boise City versus $55,404 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission - a raw gap of $11,974 lower. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission labor market has 289,460 tracked jobs against 377,880 in Boise City, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Boise City and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission are 235 and 395 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 17.1:1 at origin versus 14.7:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,315/year in Boise City versus $7,566/year in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Boise City
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 98.4
RPP 85.9
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,655/mo
$1,060/mo
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
💼 Wages
$67,378
$55,404
Boise City
🔒 Crime
235 per 100K
395 per 100K
Boise City
🎓 Schools
17.1:1
14.7:1
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
👶 Childcare
$7,315/yr
$7,566/yr
Boise City
🌿 Environment
2204 violations
33822 violations
Boise City

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boise City to see what you'd need to earn in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is McAllen-Edinburg-Mission more expensive than Boise City?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has an RPP of 85.9 compared to Boise City's 98.4 (100 = national average). Boise City is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission is $1,060/mo vs $1,655/mo in Boise City.
What are salaries like in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission compared to Boise City?
The median salary in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission is $55,404 compared to $67,378 in Boise City. That's a -$11,974 difference.
Is McAllen-Edinburg-Mission safer than Boise City?
The violent crime rate near McAllen-Edinburg-Mission is 395 per 100K vs 235 per 100K near Boise City (state-level data). Boise City has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission to match my Boise City salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Boise City salary by 0.87. For example, a $75,000 salary in Boise City would need to be $65,475 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)