$40K in Boise = $39,238 in Tempe

Your $40K salary in Boise (COL 105) has the same purchasing power as $39,238 in Tempe (COL 103). Tempe is cheaper — your money goes 2% further there.

$40K in Boise, ID
$2,535/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (63% of take-home)
Difficult
$39,238/yr in Tempe, AZ
$2,595/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (62% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Boise
$40K
Tempe
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,535$2,645
1BR rent$1,600$1,600
Groceries$372$380
Transport$45$55
Utilities$145$210
Internet$60$62
Left after essentials$313/month$338/month
To match your Boise purchasing power in Tempe, you'd need to earn $39,238/year (2% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $288/mo left after essentials — vs $313/mo in Boise.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Boise equivalent to in Tempe?

$40K in Boise (COL index 105) has the same purchasing power as $39,238 in Tempe (COL index 103). That's 2% less than your current salary.

If I move from Boise to Tempe keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Tempe, you'd have $25 more per month after core expenses — because Tempe is cheaper than Boise.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (103 ÷ 105) = $39,238. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Boise to Tempe

$50K → $49,048$60K → $58,857$75K → $73,571$80K → $78,476$100K → $98,095$120K → $117,714$150K → $147,143
$40K in Tempe → BoiseMoving from Boise to TempeBoise vs Tempe — full comparisonCan I afford Boise vs Tempe on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only