Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Monticello, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.5% of gross income.

Monticello rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Monticello median rent
$1,668/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Minnesota)
$53,321/yr
Rent as % of income
37.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,443, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,333/mo in rent. Monticello's median rent of $1,668 exceeds that threshold by $335/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 65.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an auto mechanic salary

Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Monticello, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Shakopee, MN
$1,666/mo (37.5% of income)
Eagan, MN
$1,666/mo (37.5% of income)
Minneapolis, MN
$1,665/mo (37.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monticello

View full rent data for Monticello, MN →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Monticello, MN?

Median rent in Monticello is $1,668 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Minnesota earns about $53,321 a year, which makes that rent 37.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Monticello?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Minnesota (~$53,321/yr) supports up to $1,333 a month in rent. Monticello's current median rent is $1,668/mo, which is $335/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Monticello?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, an auto mechanic in Minnesota works roughly 65.1 hours a month to cover Monticello's median rent of $1,668.

Where is rent cheaper than Monticello for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Shakopee ($1,666/mo), Eagan ($1,666/mo), Minneapolis ($1,665/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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