Is $65,000 a good salary in Idaho?

$65,000 in Idaho provides a monthly take-home of approximately $4,214 after taxes. Across major Idaho cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $2,157.

What is the cost of living on $65,000 in Idaho?

The average monthly living cost across major Idaho cities is approximately $2,057 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $65,000 take-home pay of $4,214/month, you would have roughly $2,157/month remaining.

Living in Idaho · 2026

Is $65,000 enough to live in Idaho?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$4,214

Avg monthly expenses

$2,057

Avg monthly surplus

$2,157

Savings potential

~51%

After-tax take-home in Idaho

Gross salary$65,000

Federal income tax− $5,694

State income tax− $3,770

Social Security− $4,030

Medicare− $943

Annual take-home$50,563

Effective tax rate22.21%

How $65,000 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

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$462

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,445/mo

Surplus: $1,769/mo

Rent burden: 33.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

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: $2,466/mo

Rent burden: 20.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Meridian analysis →

Nampa

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $2,053/mo

Rent burden: 28.5% — 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: $2,194/mo

Rent burden: 26.1% — 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: $2,334/mo

Rent burden: 23.7% — Affordable (< 25%)

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: $2,129/mo

Rent burden: 27.3% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Caldwell analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $4,214 ($50,568/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$2,107

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,264

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$843

per month

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

Needs / year

$25,284

Wants / year

$15,170

Savings / year

$10,114

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Boise

Rent takes 33% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 6.6/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $65,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Boise, Idaho, with approximately $1,769/month (~42% 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). $65,000 here is roughly equivalent to $111,343 in San Francisco or $52,963 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$65,000 is 59% above the Idaho individual median of $40,800 and 16% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$40,800

+59%

State household median

$70,214

-7%

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)

$65,000 vs. Idaho income benchmarks

Individual median (Idaho)

$40,800

+59% vs. this salary

Household median (Idaho)

$70,214

-7% 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

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.