Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.5% of gross income.

Austin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Austin median rent
$947/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$50,502/yr
Rent as % of income
22.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,209, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $947 leaves roughly $316/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental assistant works roughly 39 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Albert Lea, MN
$923/mo (21.9% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (21.5% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (20.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Austin, MN?

Median rent in Austin is $947 a month. A typical dental assistant in Minnesota earns about $50,502 a year, which makes that rent 22.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Minnesota (~$50,502/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $947/mo, which leaves a $316/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Minnesota works roughly 39 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $947.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a dental assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Albert Lea ($923/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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