Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Key West, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 89% of gross income.

Key West rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Key West median rent
$3,351/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Florida)
$45,161/yr
Rent as % of income
89%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,763, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,129/mo in rent. Key West's median rent of $3,351 exceeds that threshold by $2,222/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 154.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,346/mo (88.9% of income)
Indian River Shores, FL
$3,333/mo (88.6% of income)
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,320/mo (88.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Key West

View full rent data for Key West, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Key West, FL?

Median rent in Key West is $3,351 a month. A typical dental assistant in Florida earns about $45,161 a year, which makes that rent 89% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Key West?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Florida (~$45,161/yr) supports up to $1,129 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,351/mo, which is $2,222/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Key West?

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a dental assistant in Florida works roughly 154.3 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a dental assistant?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Sunny Isles Beach ($3,346/mo), Indian River Shores ($3,333/mo), Sunny Isles Beach ($3,320/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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