Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Boise, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.5% of gross income.

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

Boise median rent
$1,808/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Idaho)
$35,253/yr
Rent as % of income
61.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,938, and the 30% rule supports up to $881/mo in rent. Boise's median rent of $1,808 exceeds that threshold by $927/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 106.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Boise, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Coeur d'Alene, ID
$1,807/mo (61.5% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$1,791/mo (61% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$1,787/mo (60.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Boise

View full rent data for Boise, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Boise, ID?

Median rent in Boise is $1,808 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Idaho earns about $35,253 a year, which makes that rent 61.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Boise?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Idaho (~$35,253/yr) supports up to $881 a month in rent. Boise's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $927/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Boise?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Idaho works roughly 106.7 hours a month to cover Boise's median rent of $1,808.

Where is rent cheaper than Boise for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Coeur d'Alene ($1,807/mo), Rathdrum ($1,791/mo), Rathdrum ($1,787/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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