Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Boise, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.

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

Boise median rent
$1,808/mo
Paramedic salary (Idaho)
$47,330/yr
Rent as % of income
45.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,944, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,183/mo in rent. Boise's median rent of $1,808 exceeds that threshold by $625/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 79.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Coeur d'Alene, ID
$1,807/mo (45.8% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$1,791/mo (45.4% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$1,787/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Boise

View full rent data for Boise, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Boise, ID?

Median rent in Boise is $1,808 a month. A typical paramedic in Idaho earns about $47,330 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Boise?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Idaho (~$47,330/yr) supports up to $1,183 a month in rent. Boise's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $625/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Idaho works roughly 79.5 hours a month to cover Boise's median rent of $1,808.

Where is rent cheaper than Boise for a paramedic?

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 paramedic 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.