Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Lima, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Lima rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Lima median rent
$1,176/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Ohio)
$48,194/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,016, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,205/mo in rent. Lima's median rent of $1,176 leaves roughly $29/mo of headroom under that threshold. An auto mechanic works roughly 50.8 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Lima, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Westerville, OH
$1,173/mo (29.2% of income)
Dayton, OH
$1,173/mo (29.2% of income)
Bedford, OH
$1,173/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lima

View full rent data for Lima, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Lima, OH?

Median rent in Lima is $1,176 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Ohio earns about $48,194 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Lima?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Ohio (~$48,194/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Lima's current median rent is $1,176/mo, which leaves a $29/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Ohio works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover Lima's median rent of $1,176.

Where is rent cheaper than Lima for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Westerville ($1,173/mo), Dayton ($1,173/mo), Bedford ($1,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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