Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Austin, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.

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

Austin median rent
$1,615/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Texas)
$86,635/yr
Rent as % of income
22.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,220, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,166/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,615 leaves roughly $551/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Texas cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Cedar Hill, TX
$1,614/mo (22.4% of income)
Euless, TX
$1,614/mo (22.4% of income)
Hutto, TX
$1,614/mo (22.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Austin, TX?

Median rent in Austin is $1,615 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Texas earns about $86,635 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Texas (~$86,635/yr) supports up to $2,166 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,615/mo, which leaves a $551/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a dental hygienist in Texas works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,615.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Cedar Hill ($1,614/mo), Euless ($1,614/mo), Hutto ($1,614/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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