Why wouldn't they just pay more? If they're giving you a rent voucher for an apartment whose market rate is $1250 a month, normally that would show up as income on your W2. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/when-is-employee-housing-taxab...

There are cases like remote locations where an employer can provide housing tax-free but likely not near an expensive city.

They might issue voucher nominally for $1250. But redeem it for $1000.

So the landlords might decide if they want to not rent to Amazon employees or agree to take less from them but keep the high listing price for others.

Or just starts approximating to the future of "Sorry to Bother You" and just builds its own campus where you live and work.