Rents are 9% below what Boise's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boise is $1,930, the baseline for Section 8 voucher limits. That is close to the $1,900 median asking rent.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Boise usually run 1.9% below trend in January and 1.7% above it in July, about $68 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Boise is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Boise changed +8.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 18 Idaho cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.
Rent in Boise is 52.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 17 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 10 ZIP codes in Boise, 83716 ($2,465/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 83705 ($1,633/mo).
Nampa, 19 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,668/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Boise. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Boise, ID is majority owner-occupied, 47.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Boise, ID has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Boise, ID stood at $1,470 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,900, reflecting a 29.3% increase over the period. The population has grown by 4.9% since 2019, moving from about 226,115 residents to roughly 237,242. Renters now make up 36.8% of households, compared with 39.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 47.5% of adults here, versus 41.6% in 2019. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Boise
Can you afford rent in Boise on your salary?
3 of these 8 jobs pay enough to keep the $1,900/mo median rent under 30% of pay. Police Officer is the nearest miss, at 33.2% of pay.
Boise rent by bedroom count
In Boise, the biggest price step is from a 2-bedroom to a 3-bedroom, $775 more a month. A 4-bedroom costs 2.4 times a studio.
Tips for renters in Boise
The median rent in Boise is $1,900/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,364/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,611/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,705/mo.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Boise?
Is rent going up or down in Boise?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Boise?
Which Boise neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Boise rent compare to other cities in Idaho?
30% of the US median household income is $1,800 a month, $100 short of the median rent.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.