Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.

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

Lewiston median rent
$1,419/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Idaho)
$43,218/yr
Rent as % of income
39.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,602, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,080/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,419 exceeds that threshold by $339/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 68.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Idaho Falls, ID
$1,404/mo (39% of income)
Meridian, ID
$1,404/mo (39% of income)
Post Falls, ID
$1,392/mo (38.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Lewiston, ID?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,419 a month. A typical dental assistant in Idaho earns about $43,218 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Idaho (~$43,218/yr) supports up to $1,080 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,419/mo, which is $339/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Lewiston?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a dental assistant in Idaho works roughly 68.3 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,419.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a dental assistant?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Idaho Falls ($1,404/mo), Meridian ($1,404/mo), Post Falls ($1,392/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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