Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from California to Idaho
The Boise boom explained. Idaho's 5.8% flat tax (converted from progressive in 2022) competes with California's 13.3% top rate. Counter-intuitive finding: California's progressive brackets mean lower earners may pay LESS in CA than Idaho's flat rate. At $100,000: California $5,762 vs Idaho $5,800—California is actually $38 cheaper! High earners ($250K+) see significant Idaho savings. Boise's explosive growth (fastest-growing 2010-2020) makes this comparison increasingly relevant.
Highest Income Tax
10 brackets up to 13.3%
Flat Tax
Changed to flat 5.8% in 2022
At $100,000 income:
That is CA saves $3/month (!) back in your pocket!
| Income | CA Tax | ID Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,172 | $2,900 | CA saves $728 | $7,280 |
| $75,000 | $3,765 | $4,350 | CA saves $585 | $5,850 |
| $100,000 | $5,762 | $5,800 | CA saves $38 | $380 |
| $150,000 | $10,438 | $8,700 | ID saves $1,738 | $17,380 |
| $250,000 | $20,663 | $14,500 | ID saves $6,163 | $61,630 |
| $500,000 | $50,413 | $29,000 | ID saves $21,413 | $214,130 |
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Moving from California to Idaho? Multi-state returns are tricky—partial-year residency, different deadlines, avoiding double taxation. Get matched with a CPA who specializes in state moves. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.
Get Matched With a CPA →At certain income levels, yes! California's progressive brackets start at 1% for low incomes, while Idaho's 5.8% flat rate applies to ALL income. At $50K: CA $2,172 vs ID $2,900—CA saves $728. At $100K: nearly identical ($38 difference). The crossover point is around $110K—above that, Idaho's flat rate wins. This surprises many people who assume CA is always more expensive.
The crossover is approximately $110,000 in taxable income. Below that, California's progressive brackets (starting at 1%) beat Idaho's 5.8% flat rate. Above $110K, Idaho wins—and the gap widens dramatically at higher incomes. At $250K: ID saves $6,163/year. At $500K: ID saves $21,413/year. High earners benefit most from Idaho's flat tax.
Relatively, but it's changed dramatically. Boise median home price: $480K (2026), up from $250K in 2019—a 92% increase in 7 years, driven by California migration. Still cheaper than Bay Area ($1.3M+) or LA ($850K+), but no longer the bargain it was. California refugees priced out many locals. Nampa, Meridian, and smaller towns remain more affordable.
Growing but still small. Micron (memory chips) is Idaho's tech anchor with a $15B expansion. HP, Clearwater Analytics, and Albertsons HQ are there. But Boise has a tiny fraction of Bay Area jobs—most CA→ID moves involve remote work, keeping Bay Area salaries while living in Boise. That's the optimal strategy: CA salary + ID 5.8% tax + lower housing.
Idaho's 5.8% flat rate is higher than Texas (0%), Nevada (0%), or Washington (0%). If pure tax savings is the goal, those states win. But Idaho offers outdoor lifestyle closer to Pacific Northwest culture, and Boise is seeing tech growth those states' secondary cities lack. For Californians wanting mountains + tech jobs + modest tax savings, Idaho is the compromise choice.