Boise City, ID vs Pocatello, ID
A 2-bedroom in Pocatello costs $482 less per month than Boise City ($1,173 vs $1,655). Median income is $82,694 in Boise City and $64,080 in Pocatello. That's a difference of $5,784 per year in housing costs.
Boise City, Idaho 2-bedroom FMR is $482 above Pocatello, Idaho — a meaningful 41-percent premium. Differences of this size are usually structural rather than transient, reflecting permanent differences in housing supply, labor-market scale, or zoning.
For households weighing a move between the two counties, the FMR gap is one input among several. Cost-of-living adjustments cover housing well but undercount the income-side picture; local wages can offset rent differences, particularly in higher-paying coastal metros where the higher rent comes with higher pay.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Boise City | Pocatello |
|---|---|---|
| Studio FMR | $1,170 | $809 |
| 1BR FMR | $1,381 | $894 |
| 2BR FMR | $1,655 | $1,173 |
| 3BR FMR | $2,318 | $1,631 |
| 4BR FMR | $2,772 | $1,968 |
| Median Income | $82,694 | $64,080 |
| Rent Burden | 24% | 22% |
| Actual Median Rent | $1,383 | $879 |
| Median Home Value | $434,400 | $267,200 |
| Population | 791K | 88K |
| Renter % | 27.3% | 31.4% |
| Vacancy Rate | 4.6% | 6.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 9.1% | 12.2% |
| YoY Change | +19.2% | +18.8% |
| Min Wage | $7.25/hr | $7.25/hr |
Income Required to Afford a 2-Bedroom
Frequently Asked Questions
Pocatello, ID is more affordable with a 2BR FMR of $1,173/mo, which is $482 less than Boise City at $1,655/mo. However, when considering local incomes, Boise City has a rent burden of 24% vs 22% in Pocatello.
A 2-bedroom in Boise City, ID costs $1,655/mo at Fair Market Rent, while in Pocatello, ID it's $1,173/mo, a difference of $482/mo or $5,784/year.
To afford a 2BR without spending more than 30% of income on rent: Boise City requires $66,200/year ($32/hr). Pocatello requires $46,920/year ($23/hr).
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026.