McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Boise City

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

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

Pros of Moving

  • + $12K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 12% higher cost of living
  • - $595/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from McAllen-Edinburg-Mission to Boise City shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 85.9 to 98.4 (100 = US average), so a McAllen-Edinburg-Mission salary needs to be multiplied by 1.15 to hold the same purchasing power in Boise City. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,060/month in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission to $1,655/month in Boise City - a higher 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 $55,404 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission versus $67,378 in Boise City - a raw gap of $11,974 higher. The Boise City labor market has 377,880 tracked jobs against 289,460 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and Boise City are 395 and 235 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.7:1 at origin versus 17.1:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,566/year in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission versus $7,315/year in Boise City. 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
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Boise City
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 85.9
RPP 98.4
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,060/mo
$1,655/mo
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
💼 Wages
$55,404
$67,378
Boise City
🔒 Crime
395 per 100K
235 per 100K
Boise City
🎓 Schools
14.7:1
17.1:1
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
👶 Childcare
$7,566/yr
$7,315/yr
Boise City
🌿 Environment
33822 violations
2204 violations
Boise City

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Boise City
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boise City more expensive than McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Boise City has an RPP of 98.4 compared to McAllen-Edinburg-Mission's 85.9 (100 = national average). Boise City is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Boise City is $1,655/mo vs $1,060/mo in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission.
What are salaries like in Boise City compared to McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
The median salary in Boise City is $67,378 compared to $55,404 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. That's a +$11,974 difference.
Is Boise City safer than McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
The violent crime rate near Boise City is 235 per 100K vs 395 per 100K near McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (state-level data). Boise City has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Boise City to match my McAllen-Edinburg-Mission salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your McAllen-Edinburg-Mission salary by 1.15. For example, a $75,000 salary in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission would need to be $85,911 in Boise City. 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)