$40K in Denver = $34,426 in Boise

Your $40K salary in Denver (COL 122) has the same purchasing power as $34,426 in Boise (COL 105). Boise is cheaper — your money goes 14% further there.

$40K in Denver, CO
$2,582/mo take-home
Rent: $2,000/mo (77% of take-home)
Difficult
$34,426/yr in Boise, ID
$2,182/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (73% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

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

Expense
Denver
$40K
Boise
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,582$2,535
1BR rent$2,000$1,600
Groceries$388$372
Transport$114$45
Utilities$140$145
Internet$65$60
Left after essentials-$125/month$313/month
To match your Denver purchasing power in Boise, you'd need to earn $34,426/year (14% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $-40/mo left after essentials — vs $-125/mo in Denver.

Frequently asked questions

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

$40K in Denver (COL index 122) has the same purchasing power as $34,426 in Boise (COL index 105). That's 14% less than your current salary.

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

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Boise, you'd have $438 more per month after core expenses — because Boise is cheaper than Denver.

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 × (105 ÷ 122) = $34,426. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Denver to Boise

$50K → $43,033$60K → $51,639$75K → $64,549$80K → $68,852$100K → $86,066$120K → $103,279$150K → $129,098
$40K in Boise → DenverMoving from Denver to BoiseDenver vs Boise — full comparisonCan I afford Denver vs Boise on $40K?

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