Rent Affordability for Accountants and Auditors in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
Accountant pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. The cost-of-living premium that high-cost metros add to rent is offset, in most cases, by higher local accountant pay — but not entirely. At the national-average accountant salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,270 a month in rent, which is above the median rent in most metros tracked here. The per-city pages quantify the surplus or pinch in each market.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest accountant pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $113,475/yr | $2,837/mo | View cities › |
| California | $107,120/yr | $2,678/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $105,305/yr | $2,633/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $103,489/yr | $2,587/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $101,674/yr | $2,542/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $101,674/yr | $2,542/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $101,674/yr | $2,542/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $99,858/yr | $2,496/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $98,042/yr | $2,451/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $98,042/yr | $2,451/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest accountant pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $73,532/yr | $1,838/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $75,347/yr | $1,884/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $77,163/yr | $1,929/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $78,071/yr | $1,952/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $78,979/yr | $1,974/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $79,886/yr | $1,997/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $79,886/yr | $1,997/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $79,886/yr | $1,997/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $79,886/yr | $1,997/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $79,886/yr | $1,997/mo | View cities › |
All states
Frequently asked questions
Can an accountant afford rent in any US city?
In nearly every US metro, yes. The highest-cost coastal cities erode the affordability surplus to roughly 30% of gross income for entry-level pay, but mid-career CPA pay typically restores it.
What rent can an accountant afford?
At the BLS national mean of $90,780, the 30% rule supports about $2,270 a month in rent.