Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Caldwell, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.9% of gross income.

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

Caldwell median rent
$1,729/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Idaho)
$32,992/yr
Rent as % of income
62.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,749, and the 30% rule supports up to $825/mo in rent. Caldwell's median rent of $1,729 exceeds that threshold by $904/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 109 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Caldwell, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Mountain Home, ID
$1,719/mo (62.5% of income)
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$1,718/mo (62.5% of income)
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$1,715/mo (62.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Caldwell

View full rent data for Caldwell, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Caldwell, ID?

Median rent in Caldwell is $1,729 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Idaho earns about $32,992 a year, which makes that rent 62.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Caldwell?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Idaho (~$32,992/yr) supports up to $825 a month in rent. Caldwell's current median rent is $1,729/mo, which is $904/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Caldwell?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Idaho works roughly 109 hours a month to cover Caldwell's median rent of $1,729.

Where is rent cheaper than Caldwell for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Mountain Home ($1,719/mo), Coeur d'Alene ($1,718/mo), Coeur d'Alene ($1,715/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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