To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Idaho needs to pay from $23.26 an hour in Bingham County to $39.76 in Teton County, before taxes. The middle county is Gooding County at $27.92.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Ada County | $39.57/hr | $1,240/mo |
| Adams County | $27.42/hr | $895/mo |
| Bannock County | $28.59/hr | $930/mo |
| Bear Lake County | $23.92/hr | $790/mo |
| Benewah County | $25.59/hr | $840/mo |
| Bingham County | $23.26/hr | $770/mo |
| Blaine County | $34.97/hr | $1,120/mo |
| Boise County | $32.92/hr | $1,060/mo |
| Bonner County | $28.09/hr | $915/mo |
| Bonneville County | $33.58/hr | $1,080/mo |
| Boundary County | $23.59/hr | $780/mo |
| Butte County | $28.25/hr | $920/mo |
| Camas County | $27.85/hr | $908/mo |
| Canyon County | $32.92/hr | $1,060/mo |
| Caribou County | $30.58/hr | $990/mo |
| Cassia County | $25.92/hr | $850/mo |
| Clark County | $25.22/hr | $829/mo |
| Clearwater County | $24.92/hr | $820/mo |
| Custer County | $29.59/hr | $960/mo |
| Elmore County | $32.92/hr | $1,060/mo |
| Franklin County | $25.92/hr | $850/mo |
| Fremont County | $36.11/hr | $1,150/mo |
| Gem County | $26.59/hr | $870/mo |
| Gooding County | $27.92/hr | $910/mo |
| Idaho County | $25.42/hr | $835/mo |
| Jefferson County | $32.75/hr | $1,055/mo |
| Jerome County | $24.92/hr | $820/mo |
| Kootenai County | $35.53/hr | $1,135/mo |
| Latah County | $26.75/hr | $875/mo |
| Lemhi County | $27.25/hr | $890/mo |
| Lewis County | $27.92/hr | $910/mo |
| Lincoln County | $27.25/hr | $890/mo |
| Madison County | $31.65/hr | $1,022/mo |
| Minidoka County | $30.92/hr | $1,000/mo |
| Nez Perce County | $28.59/hr | $930/mo |
| Oneida County | $27.85/hr | $908/mo |
| Owyhee County | $32.92/hr | $1,060/mo |
| Payette County | $24.92/hr | $820/mo |
| Power County | $25.25/hr | $830/mo |
| Shoshone County | $27.09/hr | $885/mo |
| Teton County | $39.76/hr | $1,245/mo |
| Twin Falls County | $28.09/hr | $915/mo |
| Valley County | $35.73/hr | $1,140/mo |
| Washington County | $29.25/hr | $950/mo |
The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent?