The Salary You Need To Afford Rent in Every State

A common rule of thumb is to spend less than 30% of your salary on housing costs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers anyone spending more than 30% “cost burdened.” However, many Americans — especially renters — show signs that they’re living beyond their means. For example, they let rent eat up their paychecks and use credit cards to pay for other expenses.

Of course, how much you need to earn to afford rent depends a lot on where you live. GOBankingRates examined the median rent for single-family residences in every state, and calculated the monthly and yearly income needed to have monthly rent consume 30% or less of the total income to determine the salary you’ll need to afford rent.

See the income you’ll need based on where you live. Or, start looking for a place that more closely aligns with what you’re pulling in.

• Median rent: $1,251
• Monthly income needed: $4,170
• Annual income needed: $50,040

• Median rent: $1,470
• Monthly income needed: $4,900
• Annual income needed: $58,800

• Median rent: $1,597
• Monthly income needed: $5,323
• Annual income needed: $63,880

• Median rent: $1,036
• Monthly income needed: $3,453
• Annual income needed: $41,440

• Median rent: $2,531
• Monthly income needed: $8,437
• Annual income needed: $101,240

• Median rent: $1,887
• Monthly income needed: $6,290
• Annual income needed: $75,480

• Median rent: $1,926
• Monthly income needed: $6,420
• Annual income needed: $77,040

• Median rent: $1,602
• Monthly income needed: $5,340
• Annual income needed: $64,080

• Median rent: $1,934
• Monthly income needed: $6,447
• Annual income needed: $77,360

• Median rent: $1,611
• Monthly income needed: $5,370
• Annual income needed: $64,440

• Median rent: $2,512
• Monthly income needed: $8,373
• Annual income needed: $100,480

• Median rent: $1,557
• Monthly income needed: $5,190
• Annual income needed: $62,280

• Median rent: $1,866
• Monthly income needed: $6,220
• Annual income needed: $74,640

• Median rent: $1,234
• Monthly income needed: $4,113
• Annual income needed: $49,360

• Median rent: $1,166
• Monthly income needed: $3,887
• Annual income needed: $46,640

• Median rent: $1,187
• Monthly income needed: $3,957
• Annual income needed: $47,480

• Median rent: $1,218
• Monthly income needed: $4,060
• Annual income needed: $48,720

• Median rent: $1,197
• Monthly income needed: $3,990
• Annual income needed: $47,880

• Median rent: $1,851
• Monthly income needed: $6,170
• Annual income needed: $74,040

• Median rent: $1,810
• Monthly income needed: $6,033
• Annual income needed: $72,400

• Median rent: $2,714
• Monthly income needed: $9,047
• Annual income needed: $108,560

• Median rent: $1,280
• Monthly income needed: $4,267
• Annual income needed: $51,200

• Median rent: $1,504
• Monthly income needed: $5,013
• Annual income needed: $60,160

• Median rent: $1,258
• Monthly income needed: $4,193
• Annual income needed: $50,320

• Median rent: $1,235
• Monthly income needed: $4,117
• Annual income needed: $49,400

• Median rent: $1,560
• Monthly income needed: $5,200
• Annual income needed: $62,400

• Median rent: $1,215
• Monthly income needed: $4,050
• Annual income needed: $48,600

• Median rent: $1,499
• Monthly income needed: $4,997
• Annual income needed: $59,960

• Median rent: $1,975
• Monthly income needed: $6,583
• Annual income needed: $79,000

• Median rent: $2,236
• Monthly income needed: $7,453
• Annual income needed: $89,440

• Median rent: $1,342
• Monthly income needed: $4,473
• Annual income needed: $53,680

• Median rent: $2,639
• Monthly income needed: $8,797
• Annual income needed: $105,560

• Median rent: $1,526
• Monthly income needed: $5,087
• Annual income needed: $61,040

• Median rent: $1,046
• Monthly income needed: $3,487
• Annual income needed: $41,840

• Median rent: $1,219
• Monthly income needed: $4,063
• Annual income needed: $48,760

• Median rent: $989
• Monthly income needed: $3,297
• Annual income needed: $39,560

• Median rent: $1,711
• Monthly income needed: $5,703
• Annual income needed: $68,440

• Median rent: $1,660
• Monthly income needed: $5,533
• Annual income needed: $66,400

• Median rent: $1,992
• Monthly income needed: $6,640
• Annual income needed: $79,680

• Median rent: $1,555
• Monthly income needed: $5,183
• Annual income needed: $62,200

• Median rent: $1,105
• Monthly income needed: $3,683
• Annual income needed: $44,200

• Median rent: $1,470
• Monthly income needed: $4,900
• Annual income needed: $58,800

• Median rent: $1,451
• Monthly income needed: $4,837
• Annual income needed: $58,040

• Median rent: $1,611
• Monthly income needed: $5,370
• Annual income needed: $64,440

• Median rent: $1,936
• Monthly income needed: $6,453
• Annual income needed: $77,440

• Median rent: $1,875
• Monthly income needed: $6,250
• Annual income needed: $75,000

• Median rent: $1,983
• Monthly income needed: $6,610
• Annual income needed: $79,320

• Median rent: $1,246
• Monthly income needed: $4,153
• Annual income needed: $49,840

• Median rent: $1,462
• Monthly income needed: $4,873
• Annual income needed: $58,480

• Median rent: $1,119
• Monthly income needed: $3,730
• Annual income needed: $44,760

Methodology: GOBankingRates calculated the salary needed to afford rent in every state by using the budget rule of thumb that says to keep housing costs at 30% or less of your income. GOBankingRates found the median rent in each state, sourced from RentCafe, and worked backward to find the monthly income needed to have monthly and yearly rent consume 30% or less of income. All data was collected and is up to date as of Feb. 15, 2024.