Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.4% of gross income.

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

Meridian median rent
$2,065/mo
Paramedic salary (Idaho)
$47,330/yr
Rent as % of income
52.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,944, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,183/mo in rent. Meridian's median rent of $2,065 exceeds that threshold by $882/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 90.8 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 Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Eagle, ID
$2,052/mo (52% of income)
Kimberly, ID
$2,050/mo (52% of income)
Eagle, ID
$2,045/mo (51.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Meridian

View full rent data for Meridian, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Meridian, ID?

Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical paramedic in Idaho earns about $47,330 a year, which makes that rent 52.4% 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 Meridian?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Idaho (~$47,330/yr) supports up to $1,183 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which is $882/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Idaho works roughly 90.8 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.

Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a paramedic?

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 paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Idaho state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Meridian, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.