Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Moscow, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

Moscow rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Moscow median rent
$1,161/mo
Carpenter salary (Idaho)
$54,237/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Moscow's median rent of $1,161 leaves roughly $195/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Rexburg, ID
$1,144/mo (25.3% of income)
Lewiston, ID
$1,143/mo (25.3% of income)
Rexburg, ID
$1,124/mo (24.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moscow

View full rent data for Moscow, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Moscow, ID?

Median rent in Moscow is $1,161 a month. A typical carpenter in Idaho earns about $54,237 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Moscow?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Idaho (~$54,237/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Moscow's current median rent is $1,161/mo, which leaves a $195/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Moscow?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Idaho works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Moscow's median rent of $1,161.

Where is rent cheaper than Moscow for a carpenter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Rexburg ($1,144/mo), Lewiston ($1,143/mo), Rexburg ($1,124/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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