Extremely different.. I suggest you read up on them a bit. Their later-years will need much more expensive housing and food. They get much bigger and need different temperatures depending on what type of boa your getting.
They also tend to have humidity differences. They are a much more advanced species IMO.
www.jimisnakes.com
I don't really think it's a good idea to get a BCI until you get used to a ball python more. Having one or two ball pythons for a few months will get you used to the feeding and feel of having snakes, and a BCI is jumping the gun a bit too early.. Are you prepared for the more expensive costs a BCI would require?