Boise City Modesto

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Unfavorable
Cost Index: 98.4 → 104.1
Rent Delta: +$103/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $5K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - $103/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Boise City to Modesto shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 98.4 to 104.1 (100 = US average), so a Boise City salary needs to be multiplied by 1.06 to hold the same purchasing power in Modesto. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,655/month in Boise City to $1,758/month in Modesto - a higher monthly bill of $103, or $1,236/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 $72,702 in Modesto - a raw gap of $5,324 higher. The Modesto labor market has 187,990 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 Modesto are 235 and 477 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 17.1:1 at origin versus 21.5:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,315/year in Boise City versus $17,920/year in Modesto. Our composite verdict - Unfavorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Boise City
Modesto
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 98.4
RPP 104.1
Boise City
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,655/mo
$1,758/mo
Boise City
💼 Wages
$67,378
$72,702
Modesto
🔒 Crime
235 per 100K
477 per 100K
Boise City
🎓 Schools
17.1:1
21.5:1
Boise City
👶 Childcare
$7,315/yr
$17,920/yr
Boise City
🌿 Environment
2204 violations
17550 violations
Boise City

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Modesto
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Modesto more expensive than Boise City?
Modesto has an RPP of 104.1 compared to Boise City's 98.4 (100 = national average). Modesto is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Modesto is $1,758/mo vs $1,655/mo in Boise City.
What are salaries like in Modesto compared to Boise City?
The median salary in Modesto is $72,702 compared to $67,378 in Boise City. That's a +$5,324 difference.
Is Modesto safer than Boise City?
The violent crime rate near Modesto is 477 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 Modesto to match my Boise City salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Boise City salary by 1.06. For example, a $75,000 salary in Boise City would need to be $79,358 in Modesto. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Unfavorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Unfavorable" means the origin clearly wins on most 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)