Can An Accountant Afford Rent in Houston, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.9% of gross income.

Houston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Houston median rent
$1,567/mo
Accountant salary (Texas)
$89,872/yr
Rent as % of income
20.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,489, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,247/mo in rent. Houston's median rent of $1,567 leaves roughly $680/mo of headroom under that threshold. An accountant works roughly 36.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an accountant salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Texas cities have lower median rent than Houston, which improves the affordability math on an accountant salary:

Carrollton, TX
$1,566/mo (20.9% of income)
Cinco Ranch, TX
$1,566/mo (20.9% of income)
Austin, TX
$1,566/mo (20.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Houston

View full rent data for Houston, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can an accountant afford rent in Houston, TX?

Median rent in Houston is $1,567 a month. A typical accountant in Texas earns about $89,872 a year, which makes that rent 20.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an accountant afford in Houston?

Using the 30% rule, an accountant salary in Texas (~$89,872/yr) supports up to $2,247 a month in rent. Houston's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which leaves a $680/mo buffer.

How many hours does an accountant work to cover rent in Houston?

At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, an accountant in Texas works roughly 36.3 hours a month to cover Houston's median rent of $1,567.

Where is rent cheaper than Houston for an accountant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Carrollton ($1,566/mo), Cinco Ranch ($1,566/mo), Austin ($1,566/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an accountant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Texas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Houston, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.