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Living in Idaho · 2026

Is $56,000 enough to live in Idaho?

Single adult · ID · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,655

Avg monthly expenses

$2,057

Avg monthly surplus

$1,598

Savings potential

~44%

After-tax take-home in Idaho

Gross salary$56,000
Federal income tax− $4,614
State income tax− $3,248
Social Security− $3,472
Medicare− $812
Annual take-home$43,854
Effective tax rate21.69%

How $56,000 feels in Idaho cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Boise

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,400
Food
$462
Transport
$189
Utilities
$178
Healthcare
$216
Total: $2,445/mo
Surplus: $1,210/mo
Rent burden: 38.3% — High (35–50%)
Full Boise analysis →

Meridian

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$850
Food
$466
Transport
$140
Utilities
$132
Healthcare
$160
Total: $1,748/mo
Surplus: $1,907/mo
Rent burden: 23.3% — Affordable (< 25%)
Full Meridian analysis →

Nampa

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,200
Food
$431
Transport
$172
Utilities
$162
Healthcare
$196
Total: $2,161/mo
Surplus: $1,494/mo
Rent burden: 32.8% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Nampa analysis →

Idaho Falls

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,100
Food
$418
Transport
$163
Utilities
$153
Healthcare
$186
Total: $2,020/mo
Surplus: $1,635/mo
Rent burden: 30.1% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Idaho Falls analysis →

Pocatello

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$405
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,880/mo
Surplus: $1,775/mo
Rent burden: 27.4% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Pocatello analysis →

Caldwell

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,150
Food
$422
Transport
$166
Utilities
$157
Healthcare
$190
Total: $2,085/mo
Surplus: $1,570/mo
Rent burden: 31.5% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Caldwell analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,655 ($43,860/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,828

per month

  • ›Rent / mortgage
  • ›Groceries
  • ›Utilities
  • ›Insurance
  • ›Minimum debt payments
  • ›Transportation
Wants30%

$1,097

per month

  • ›Dining out
  • ›Streaming services
  • ›Gym
  • ›Hobbies
  • ›Travel
  • ›Shopping
Savings20%

$731

per month

  • ›Emergency fund
  • ›401(k) / IRA
  • ›Investments
  • ›Down payment fund
  • ›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$21,930

Wants / year

$13,158

Savings / year

$8,772

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Boise

Rent would consume 38% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 6.3/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $56,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Boise, Idaho, with approximately $1,210/month (~33% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Boise is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.08). $56,000 here is roughly equivalent to $95,926 in San Francisco or $45,630 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$56,000 is 37% above the Idaho individual median ($40,800) and 0% above the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$40,800

+37%

State household median

$70,214

-20%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)
401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$56,000 vs. Idaho income benchmarks

Individual median (Idaho)

$40,800

+37% vs. this salary

Household median (Idaho)

$70,214

-20% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Idaho

$40,000$60,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$300,000
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.