City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 80 in Honolulu, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 57, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
The cost gap between Honolulu and Boise is the real story here. Boise comes in 21% cheaper on typical rent ($1,823 vs $1,446), which over a year adds up to $4,524. Median household income runs $86,504 in Honolulu and $83,904 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and Honolulu pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Honolulu and Boise are 2,833 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $377 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $83,904 in Boise, down $2,600 (3%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 73 in Boise, down 7 points (9%).
The move
Boise and Honolulu are 2,833 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $377 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $2,600 (3%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 80 in Honolulu, up 7 points (10%).
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Honolulu and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Boise rent is 21% cheaper than Honolulu
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Boise is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $377/month back in your pocket ($4,524/year). Over five years that's $22,620 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Honolulu, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Boise is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Honolulu's median income is 3% higher than Boise
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Honolulu (about $2,600 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
9% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 9% lower than Honolulu
Honolulu
80 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 80 in Honolulu (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Boise. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Boise, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Honolulu. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Honolulu scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boise if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($86,504), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Honolulu (73 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Boise undercuts Honolulu by $377/month ($1,446 vs $1,823). I would not pick Honolulu on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Boise rent at $1,446/month is still below Honolulu's $1,823, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 67/100 in Honolulu and 70/100 in Boise.
Between Honolulu and Boise, Boise is ahead on housing cost — $1,446/month rent against $1,823. Lean Honolulu instead when your $86,504 income offer in Honolulu outweighs saving $377/month in Boise.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Boise, plus other cities in HI and ID.
