Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Pocatello, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.8% of gross income.

Pocatello rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Pocatello median rent
$1,063/mo
Bartender salary (Idaho)
$31,266/yr
Rent as % of income
40.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,606, and the 30% rule supports up to $782/mo in rent. Pocatello's median rent of $1,063 exceeds that threshold by $281/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 70.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Pocatello, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Blackfoot, ID
$1,060/mo (40.7% of income)
Nampa, ID
$1,052/mo (40.4% of income)
Blackfoot, ID
$988/mo (37.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pocatello

View full rent data for Pocatello, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Pocatello, ID?

Median rent in Pocatello is $1,063 a month. A typical bartender in Idaho earns about $31,266 a year, which makes that rent 40.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Pocatello?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Idaho (~$31,266/yr) supports up to $782 a month in rent. Pocatello's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which is $281/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Pocatello?

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a bartender in Idaho works roughly 70.7 hours a month to cover Pocatello's median rent of $1,063.

Where is rent cheaper than Pocatello for a bartender?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Blackfoot ($1,060/mo), Nampa ($1,052/mo), Blackfoot ($988/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Idaho state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Pocatello, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.