Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Gulf Breeze, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.7% of gross income.

Gulf Breeze rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Gulf Breeze median rent
$2,078/mo
Firefighter salary (Florida)
$58,413/yr
Rent as % of income
42.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,868, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,460/mo in rent. Gulf Breeze's median rent of $2,078 exceeds that threshold by $618/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 74 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Florida cities have lower median rent than Gulf Breeze, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Saint Augustine Beach, FL
$2,077/mo (42.7% of income)
Saint Petersburg, FL
$2,077/mo (42.7% of income)
Clermont, FL
$2,076/mo (42.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gulf Breeze

View full rent data for Gulf Breeze, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Gulf Breeze, FL?

Median rent in Gulf Breeze is $2,078 a month. A typical firefighter in Florida earns about $58,413 a year, which makes that rent 42.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Gulf Breeze?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Florida (~$58,413/yr) supports up to $1,460 a month in rent. Gulf Breeze's current median rent is $2,078/mo, which is $618/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Gulf Breeze?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Florida works roughly 74 hours a month to cover Gulf Breeze's median rent of $2,078.

Where is rent cheaper than Gulf Breeze for a firefighter?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Saint Augustine Beach ($2,077/mo), Saint Petersburg ($2,077/mo), Clermont ($2,076/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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