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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 $40K 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…
#1 Ranked: Nampa — cost index 91, rent $1,561/mo, income $72,122
0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K 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 $40K 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.
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.
The punchline isn't at the top of the ranking — it's in the middle. 0 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. And broadly, 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.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
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.
114,268 residents · Idaho
Dive into Nampa's numbers: cost index 91 (20 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 — Housing is the cheapest category at 91, while Healthcare runs 98. With 114,268 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
235,421 residents · Idaho
Here's Boise by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 99. Rent: $1,703/month. Income: $81,308/year. Home price: $494,696. Population: 235,421. The strongest category is Housing at 99; the most expensive is Healthcare at 100. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,304 per year vs. the national median. On a fixed income, this is the metric that matters most.
134,801 residents · Idaho
Why Meridian ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 114 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 Healthcare category is particularly strong at 103, though Housing (114) lags behind. Home prices average $526,393 — $59,023 above the national median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Nampa | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $30,094 |
2Boise | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $30,094 |
3Meridian | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $30,094 |
Nampa ranks #1 in Idaho for this analysis with a cost index of 91 and median income of $72,122.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Nampa, rent would consume about 47% 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 $40K in Nampa is approximately $30,094/year ($2,508/month). After median rent of $1,561/month, you'd have roughly $11,362/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.