City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Boise.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 169 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando 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. Orlando 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
Orlando and Boise are 2,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $301 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $83,904 in Boise, up $11,568 (16%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 73 in Boise, down 169 points (70%).
The move
Boise and Orlando are 2,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $301 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $72,336 in Orlando, down $11,568 (14%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 242 in Orlando, up 169 points (232%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Boise rent is 17% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Boise is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,612, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Boise still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Boise's median income is 16% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Boise (about $11,568 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boise is the stronger labor market on paper. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
70% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 70% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Orlando 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 Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Orlando 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 17% 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 16% 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 70% lower than Orlando (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
Safety is the widest gap: Boise scores 70/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,446/month in Boise and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $72,336 in Orlando.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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