Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Cheney, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.1% of gross income.

Cheney rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Cheney median rent
$1,343/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Washington)
$57,422/yr
Rent as % of income
28.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,785, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Cheney's median rent of $1,343 leaves roughly $93/mo of headroom under that threshold. An auto mechanic works roughly 48.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Cheney, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Aberdeen, WA
$1,339/mo (28% of income)
Kelso, WA
$1,339/mo (28% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,338/mo (28% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cheney

View full rent data for Cheney, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Cheney, WA?

Median rent in Cheney is $1,343 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Washington earns about $57,422 a year, which makes that rent 28.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Cheney?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Washington (~$57,422/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Cheney's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which leaves a $93/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, an auto mechanic in Washington works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover Cheney's median rent of $1,343.

Where is rent cheaper than Cheney for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,339/mo), Kelso ($1,339/mo), Centralia ($1,338/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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