Salary Needed to Live in Twin Falls as a Family

A family of four (2 adults, 2 children) needs approximately $116,793/year to live comfortably in Twin Falls, ID, including 15% savings.

Direct Answer

A family with kids needs about $116,793/year to live comfortably in Twin Falls, ID. The bare-minimum salary is $92,795/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 15% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $6,899.

The minimum scenario leaves about $5,645/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $9,733/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$116,793
with 15% savings
Bare Minimum
$92,795
$7,733/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$5,645
20% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Family in Twin Falls

ExpenseTwin FallsNat'l AvgDiff
3BR Apartment/House Rent$1,407$2,509-44%
Groceries$539$528+2%
Utilities$281$337-17%
Transportation$503$526-4%
Car Insurance$200$215-7%
Health Insurance$618$642-4%
Childcare/After-school$1,080$1,200-10%
Internet + Phones$162$180-10%
Children Activities$225$250-10%
Dining Out$315$350-10%
School Supplies & Clothing$180$200-10%
Healthcare Co-pays$135$150-10%
Total Monthly$5,645$7,087-20%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$5,645
Target savings (15%):$1,254/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$6,899
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$116,793

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$1,407

3BR Apartment/House rent is 25% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
27%

Estimated federal plus ID state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
15%

$1,254/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
90/100

Twin Falls is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities

Yakima, WA
$114,372/yr
$2,421 less than Twin Falls
Great Falls, MT
$106,821/yr
$9,972 less than Twin Falls
Pueblo, CO
$111,393/yr
$5,400 less than Twin Falls
Pocatello, ID
$110,400/yr
$6,393 less than Twin Falls

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep 3br apartment/house housing near $1,407/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $2,097/mo for persona-specific costs such as Childcare/After-school and Internet + Phones.
  3. Use $92,795/year as the survival floor and $116,793/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Twin Falls

Single Person
$53,543/yr
$2,811/mo expenses
Couple (No Kids)
$69,305/yr
$3,523/mo expenses
Retiree
$50,629/yr
$2,869/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in Twin FallsCity OverviewRent in Twin FallsMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a family with kids need in Twin Falls?
A family with kids needs approximately $116,793/year ($9,733/month gross) to live comfortably in Twin Falls with a 15% savings rate.
How much is rent for a family with kids in Twin Falls?
A 3br apartment/house in Twin Falls costs approximately $1,407/month, which is the largest single expense at 25% of the total budget.
Is Twin Falls affordable for a family with kids?
Yes, Twin Falls is 20% more affordable than the national average for a family with kids.
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