Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Garden City, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.8% of gross income.

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

Garden City median rent
$1,855/mo
Firefighter salary (Idaho)
$55,901/yr
Rent as % of income
39.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,658, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Garden City's median rent of $1,855 exceeds that threshold by $457/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 69 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Garden City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Kuna, ID
$1,819/mo (39% of income)
Boise, ID
$1,808/mo (38.8% of income)
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$1,807/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Garden City

View full rent data for Garden City, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Garden City, ID?

Median rent in Garden City is $1,855 a month. A typical firefighter in Idaho earns about $55,901 a year, which makes that rent 39.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Garden City?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Idaho (~$55,901/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Garden City's current median rent is $1,855/mo, which is $457/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Garden City?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Idaho works roughly 69 hours a month to cover Garden City's median rent of $1,855.

Where is rent cheaper than Garden City for a firefighter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Kuna ($1,819/mo), Boise ($1,808/mo), Coeur d'Alene ($1,807/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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