Cost of Living in Lewiston, ID
Lewiston, ID-WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lewiston, ID to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lewiston, ID?
With a price level of 91.2 (U.S. average = 100), Lewiston, ID is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 28% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 27% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Lewiston, ID vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.2 | −8.8% |
| Housing | 71.9 | −28.1% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 72.6 | −27.4% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lewiston, ID
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $925 | $37,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $931 | $37,240/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,220 | $48,800/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,697 | $67,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,037 | $81,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lewiston, ID
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Lewiston, ID | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,500 | $30,682 |
| $60,000 | $54,700 | $44,341 |
| $80,000 | $72,900 | $57,360 |
| $100,000 | $91,200 | $69,264 |
| $150,000 | $136,700 | $98,564 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Idaho 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Lewiston, ID's median wage of $48,300 takes home about $3,295 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $931, which is 28% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,364 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lewiston, ID
- Federal income tax$3,616
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,995
- Medicare (1.45%)$700
- Idaho income tax$1,452
- Take-home pay$39,537
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.30% state
Pay and living costs in Idaho cities
Half of Idaho’s 857,440 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,660–$72,320 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Lewiston, ID stretches a paycheck furthest, while Logan, UT is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $49,100 | 98.4 | $1,369 | 41% | $1,976 | $40,794 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $46,800 | 94.4 | $1,095 | 34% | $2,106 | $40,685 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,750 | 98.3 | $1,302 | 40% | $1,958 | $39,804 |
| Logan, UT | $46,360 | 95.9 | $946 | 30% | $2,227 | $39,698 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $45,400 | 92.1 | $980 | 31% | $2,133 | $40,562 |
| Pocatello, ID | $45,160 | 88.9 | $894 | 29% | $2,204 | $41,820 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 91.2 | $931 | 28% | $2,364 | $43,371 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Lewiston, ID vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ID | 91.2 | $931 | $48,300 | 28,680 |
| Sebring, FL | 92.5 | $1,006 | $40,400 | 28,110 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 97.8 | $1,039 | $50,730 | 30,540 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 98.5 | $1,181 | $53,100 | 25,920 |
| Carson City, NV | 98.1 | $1,212 | $56,680 | 31,940 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 95.4 | $1,099 | $46,610 | 31,940 |
| Gadsden, AL | 85.7 | $792 | $36,660 | 33,220 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lewiston, ID expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lewiston, ID-WA metro area are 91.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 71.9%. It is the #264 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lewiston, ID?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,696 in Lewiston, ID (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,300.
Can you afford Lewiston, ID on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,300 median wage takes home about $3,295 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $931 would take 28% of that.
How much is rent in Lewiston, ID?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lewiston, ID are $925 for a studio, $931 for one bedroom, $1,220 for two bedrooms and $1,697 for three bedrooms, including utilities.