Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Kimberly, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.7% of gross income.

Kimberly rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Kimberly median rent
$2,050/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Idaho)
$32,512/yr
Rent as % of income
75.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $813/mo in rent. Kimberly's median rent of $2,050 exceeds that threshold by $1,237/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 131.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Idaho cities have lower median rent than Kimberly, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Eagle, ID
$2,045/mo (75.5% of income)
Eagle, ID
$2,045/mo (75.5% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$2,030/mo (74.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kimberly

View full rent data for Kimberly, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Kimberly, ID?

Median rent in Kimberly is $2,050 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Idaho earns about $32,512 a year, which makes that rent 75.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Kimberly?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Idaho (~$32,512/yr) supports up to $813 a month in rent. Kimberly's current median rent is $2,050/mo, which is $1,237/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Kimberly?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Idaho works roughly 131.2 hours a month to cover Kimberly's median rent of $2,050.

Where is rent cheaper than Kimberly for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,045/mo), Eagle ($2,045/mo), Rathdrum ($2,030/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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