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Living in Idaho · 2026

Is $75,000 enough to live in Idaho?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$4,755

Avg monthly expenses

$2,057

Avg monthly surplus

$2,698

Savings potential

~57%

After-tax take-home in Idaho

Gross salary$75,000
Federal income tax− $7,854
State income tax− $4,350
Social Security− $4,650
Medicare− $1,088
Annual take-home$57,058
Effective tax rate23.92%

How $75,000 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: $2,310/mo
Rent burden: 29.4% — 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: $3,007/mo
Rent burden: 17.9% — 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: $2,594/mo
Rent burden: 25.2% — 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: $2,735/mo
Rent burden: 23.1% — Affordable (< 25%)
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: $2,875/mo
Rent burden: 21.0% — 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: $2,670/mo
Rent burden: 24.2% — Affordable (< 25%)
Full Caldwell analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $4,755 ($57,060/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$2,378

per month

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

$1,427

per month

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

$951

per month

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

Needs / year

$28,530

Wants / year

$17,118

Savings / year

$11,412

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Boise

Rent takes 29% 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: 6.9/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $75,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Boise, Idaho, with approximately $2,310/month (~49% 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). $75,000 here is roughly equivalent to $128,472 in San Francisco or $61,111 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$75,000 is 84% above the Idaho individual median of $40,800 and 34% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$40,800

+84%

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)

$75,000 vs. Idaho income benchmarks

Individual median (Idaho)

$40,800

+84% 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
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.