Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Idaho Falls, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.7% of gross income.

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

Idaho Falls median rent
$1,383/mo
Firefighter salary (Idaho)
$55,901/yr
Rent as % of income
29.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,658, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Idaho Falls's median rent of $1,383 leaves roughly $15/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 51.5 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 Idaho Falls, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Shelley, ID
$1,375/mo (29.5% of income)
Mountain Home, ID
$1,362/mo (29.2% of income)
Chubbuck, ID
$1,308/mo (28.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Idaho Falls

View full rent data for Idaho Falls, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Idaho Falls, ID?

Median rent in Idaho Falls is $1,383 a month. A typical firefighter in Idaho earns about $55,901 a year, which makes that rent 29.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Idaho Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Idaho (~$55,901/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Idaho Falls's current median rent is $1,383/mo, which leaves a $15/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Idaho Falls?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Idaho works roughly 51.5 hours a month to cover Idaho Falls's median rent of $1,383.

Where is rent cheaper than Idaho Falls for a firefighter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Shelley ($1,375/mo), Mountain Home ($1,362/mo), Chubbuck ($1,308/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 Idaho Falls, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.