Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

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

Lewiston median rent
$1,321/mo
Paramedic salary (Idaho)
$47,330/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
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 $1,321 exceeds that threshold by $138/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.1 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
$1,320/mo (33.5% of income)
Idaho Falls, ID
$1,319/mo (33.4% of income)
Idaho Falls, ID
$1,318/mo (33.4% 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 $1,321 a month. A typical paramedic in Idaho earns about $47,330 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 $1,321/mo, which is $138/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 58.1 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,321.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a paramedic?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Idaho Falls ($1,320/mo), Idaho Falls ($1,319/mo), Idaho Falls ($1,318/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.