City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 85 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Los Angeles makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Boise is the stronger move.
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
Los Angeles and Boise are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $487 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $83,904 in Boise, up $1,965 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 73 in Boise, down 85 points (54%).
The move
Boise and Los Angeles are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $487 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $81,939 in Los Angeles, down $1,965 (2%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 158 in Los Angeles, up 85 points (116%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Boise rent is 25% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Boise is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $487/month back in your pocket ($5,844/year). Over five years that's $29,220 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 Los Angeles, 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
2% higher
Boise's median income is 2% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Boise (about $1,965 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
54% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 54% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% lower in Boise. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Boise is the easier city. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Los Angeles 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Los Angeles if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Los Angeles is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($83,904). Start with Boise if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Los Angeles (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
Los Angeles carries the heavier crime signal on this page (46/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 24-point spread matters more than the $487 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 46/100 in Los Angeles), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 77°F in Los Angeles and 61°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 46/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Los Angeles, treat $1,933/month rent and $81,939 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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