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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 $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Nampa comes out on…
114,268 residents · Idaho
A closer look at Nampa: the cost index of 91 breaks down to a Housing index of 91 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). Median rent is $1,561/month — 18% below the national median — while household income sits at $72,122, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
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, Housing (index 99) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 100) 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
Here's Meridian by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 114. Rent: $1,954/month. Income: $98,686/year. Home price: $526,393. Population: 134,801. The strongest category is Healthcare at 103; the most expensive is Housing at 114. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $708 more per year vs. the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks (that's pre-tax, of course).
#1 Ranked: Nampa — cost index 91, rent $1,561/mo, income $72,122
0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K
0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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 (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
Look, this next stat is the one to screenshot: 0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
The #1 spot goes to Nampa, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,561/month — saving renters $4,008 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 91, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 98. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
On a $30K salary, the key number is $750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. And generally speaking, nampa ($1,561/mo, 62%), Boise ($1,703/mo, 68%), Meridian ($1,954/mo, 78%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $22,629 to $22,629/year across these top picks.
Before celebrating, check the next metric: The 3 cities we track in Idaho paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 101. Median rent: $1,739/month. Household income: $84,039. Idaho is known for pandemic migration boom has reshaped prices — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
Bottom line: Nampa leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (your mileage may vary — literally).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Nampa | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $22,629 |
2Boise | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $22,629 |
3Meridian | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $22,629 |
We model what a $30K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 91 and median income of $72,122.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Nampa, rent would consume about 62% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 91 and rent of $1,561/mo, while Meridian (ranked #3) has a cost index of 114 and rent of $1,954/mo — a 23-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 $30K in Nampa is approximately $22,629/year ($1,886/month). After median rent of $1,561/month, you'd have roughly $3,897/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.