Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Boise, ID?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.
Boise rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Boise, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Boise
View full rent data for Boise, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Boise, ID?
Median rent in Boise is $1,808 a month. A typical registered nurse in Idaho earns about $84,087 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Boise?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Idaho (~$84,087/yr) supports up to $2,102 a month in rent. Boise's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which leaves a $294/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Boise?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a registered nurse in Idaho works roughly 44.7 hours a month to cover Boise's median rent of $1,808.
Where is rent cheaper than Boise for a registered nurse?
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 registered nurse salary.