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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Nampa co…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Nampa comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis. Below the radar, but not for long.
The #1 spot goes to Nampa, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,561/month — we had to double-check this one — — saving renters $4,008 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 95, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 109. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Against the national baseline, though: Idaho — pandemic migration boom has reshaped prices. The 3 cities we track here average a cost index of 110 and median income of $84,039. It lands right near the national baseline, which makes the differences between individual cities all the more important. The typical rent runs $1,739/month, which is $156 less than the national median.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Nampa — cost index 104, rent $1,561/mo, income $72,122
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
114,268 residents · Idaho
Dive into Nampa's numbers: cost index 104 (8 points below national average), rent $1,561/month, income $72,122, and a home price of $408,658. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 95, while Housing runs 109. With 114,268 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
235,421 residents · Idaho
What does daily life actually cost in Boise? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Utilities (index 101) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 125) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $81,308 and homes at $494,696 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
134,801 residents · Idaho
Why Meridian ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 115 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 3% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,954/month while the median household pulls in $98,686/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 106, though Housing (138) lags behind. Home prices average $526,393 — $59,023 above the national median.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Nampa has increased from $1,502 to $1,561/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Nampa | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
2Boise | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
3Meridian | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Nampa ranks #1 in Idaho for this analysis with a cost index of 104 and median income of $72,122.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Nampa, rent would consume about 19% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Nampa (ranked #1) has a cost index of 104 and rent of $1,561/mo, while Meridian (ranked #3) has a cost index of 115 and rent of $1,954/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Nampa is $1,561/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $334 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.695% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Nampa is approximately $69,602/year ($5,800/month). After median rent of $1,561/month, you'd have roughly $50,870/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Nampa is $408,658, which is 5.7× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Idaho has a 5.695% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.02%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.