Essentials
- City
- Boise, Idaho, United States
- Population
- 237,000 (City), 815,000 (Metropolitan Area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 250 Mbps; Quantum Fiber and Sparklight offer up to 1 Gbps
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($). Local banks include Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) and Wells Fargo.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality from Boise River and groundwater
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T. Prepaid plans approx. $40/month for 15GB
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Revolut (Digital), Wise for international transfers
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Zillow Rentals, Furnished Finder for mid-term stays
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple/Google) accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- The Modern Hotel (approx. $160/night), Airbnb Downtown (approx. $120-$200/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner (approx. $95/night), Boise State University Summer Housing
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown Boise (near 8th Street) for walkability and nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- North End (historic, near Hyde Park) or East End (near the Greenbelt and Foothills)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Trailhead Boise ($150/month hot desk) or Wheelhouse ($250/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Form & Function ($5-7 per latte, fast WiFi) or Dawson Taylor Coffee Bakers
- Networking Events
- Boise Startup Week (Annual), Boise Young Professionals (BYP) monthly socials
- Social Events for Expats
- Boise Digital Nomads Meetup, International Boise Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (average cross-town ride $15-$25)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Lime and Bird scooters ($1 to start + $0.39/min), ValleyBike Share
- Best Beach Nearby
- Quinn’s Pond / Esther Simplot Park (Freshwater beach 5 mins from downtown)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Delta, United (Connecting via SLC, SEA, or SFO)
- Highway Access
- I-84 (Primary East-West), Highway 55 (North to mountains)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Boise Depot (Historical); Main Street Station (Bus Hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- Valley Regional Transit (VRT); Day pass $2.50, Monthly $42
- Regional Travel
- Salt Lake Express (Shuttle bus to Utah), Greyhound
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Luke's Boise Medical Center (190 E Bannock St)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sage Yoga & Wellness ($20 drop-in), Hollywood Market Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Axiom Fitness ($40-60/month), YMCA Downtown ($58/month)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Room on Vista (Self-serve or wash/fold at $1.50/lb)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Finger Steaks (Try at Westside Drive-In) or Idaho Ice Cream Potato
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- High Note Cafe (100% plant-based), BBQ4Life (Vegan BBQ options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- The STIL (Infused ice cream), Guru Donuts
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- WinCo Foods (Employee-owned, bulk bins), Trader Joe's
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/1-day delivery), Target.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Albertsons Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- 8th Street Corridor and 'The Bodo' district
- Local Brewery
- Payette Brewing Co., Mother Earth Brew Co.
- Wine Bars
- Bodovino (Self-serve wine taps), Coiled Wines Tasting Room
- Street Food Stalls
- The Warehouse Food Hall (Multi-vendor hall in Bodo)
- Popular International Cuisine
- The Basque Market (Spanish Paella), Bombay Grill (Indian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Idaho State Capitol, Old Idaho Penitentiary
- Museums & Art Venues
- Boise Art Museum (BAM), Discovery Center of Idaho
- Historical Sites
- The Basque Block (one of the largest Basque communities in the US)
- Religious Sites
- Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Boise Idaho Temple
- Annual Events
- Treefort Music Fest (March), Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Basque Block (Grove St between 6th and Capitol)
- Theater Venues
- Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Outdoor), Morrison Center
- Local Markets
- Capital City Public Market (Saturdays, April-Dec)
- Music Scene
- Knitting Factory, Neurolux, The Olympic
- Street Art
- Freak Alley Gallery (Largest open-air multi-artist mural gallery in NW)
- Cooking Classes
- Season and Sustain ($75-100 per class)
- Art Galleries
- James Castle House, Stewart Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Union Pacific Depot, Egyptian Theatre
- Local Heritage
- Basque heritage festivals and 'Euzkaldunak' (Basque Center)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bogus Basin (45 mins away for skiing/hiking), Lucky Peak State Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Craters of the Moon National Monument (3 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Boise River Greenbelt (25 miles of paved scenic paths)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Camel’s Back Park (Hike to the top for city skyline views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- The World Center for Birds of Prey
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BLM land outside city limits; check local fire restrictions
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS
- Tech Repair Services
- Fruit Fixed (iPhone/Mac), Re-PC
- Table Tennis Spots
- Real-Life Pong at local arcades like Spacebar
- Language Classes
- Boise State University Continuing Ed, Basque Museum Language Classes
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Boise Public Library (Main Branch on Capitol Blvd)
- Community Centers
- Dick Eardley Senior Center, Fort Boise Community Center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Fort Hall Casino (2.5 hours away; no casinos in Boise city limits)
- Gaming Lounges
- Base LAN Center, Realms Arcade
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 5.8% (Idaho State) + 21% (Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% - 20% (Federal) depending on income/status
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens/Green Card holders
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 5.8% (State) + 37% (Federal)
- VAT
- 6% (Sales Tax in Idaho), no Federal VAT
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual, approx. 0.7% to 1.1% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- None (Idaho does not have a transfer tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; Idaho has a flat-ish low state income tax compared to neighbors like Oregon