Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.8% of gross income.
Meridian rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Meridian
View full rent data for Meridian, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Meridian, ID?
Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical lawyer in Idaho earns about $157,058 a year, which makes that rent 15.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Meridian?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Idaho (~$157,058/yr) supports up to $3,926 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which leaves a $1,861/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Meridian?
At an hourly equivalent of about $76 an hour, a lawyer in Idaho works roughly 27.3 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.
Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a lawyer?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,052/mo), Kimberly ($2,050/mo), Eagle ($2,045/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.