Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Boise, ID?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.
Boise rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Boise, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Boise
View full rent data for Boise, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Boise, ID?
Median rent in Boise is $1,808 a month. A typical police officer in Idaho earns about $68,770 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Boise?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Idaho (~$68,770/yr) supports up to $1,719 a month in rent. Boise's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $89/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Boise?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Idaho works roughly 54.7 hours a month to cover Boise's median rent of $1,808.
Where is rent cheaper than Boise for a police officer?
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 police officer salary.