Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 83.8% of gross income.

South Padre Island rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

South Padre Island median rent
$4,212/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
83.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212 exceeds that threshold by $2,704/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 145.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Texas cities have lower median rent than South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

University Park, TX
$4,163/mo (82.8% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,358/mo (66.8% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,274/mo (65.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island

View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 83.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in South Padre Island?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $2,704/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in South Padre Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 145.2 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.

Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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