Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Mountain Home, ID?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.4% of gross income.
Mountain Home rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).
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 Mountain Home, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Mountain Home
View full rent data for Mountain Home, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Mountain Home, ID?
Median rent in Mountain Home is $1,582 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Idaho earns about $32,512 a year, which makes that rent 58.4% 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 Mountain Home?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Idaho (~$32,512/yr) supports up to $813 a month in rent. Mountain Home's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $769/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Mountain Home?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Idaho works roughly 101.2 hours a month to cover Mountain Home's median rent of $1,582.
Where is rent cheaper than Mountain Home for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Twin Falls ($1,580/mo), Ammon ($1,578/mo), Twin Falls ($1,577/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.