Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.

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

Lewiston median rent
$1,419/mo
Paramedic salary (Idaho)
$47,330/yr
Rent as % of income
36%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,944, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,183/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,419 exceeds that threshold by $236/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 62.4 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 Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Idaho Falls, ID
$1,404/mo (35.6% of income)
Meridian, ID
$1,404/mo (35.6% of income)
Post Falls, ID
$1,392/mo (35.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lewiston, ID?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,419 a month. A typical paramedic in Idaho earns about $47,330 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Idaho (~$47,330/yr) supports up to $1,183 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,419/mo, which is $236/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Idaho works roughly 62.4 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,419.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a paramedic?

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 paramedic 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.