Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Santa Rosa Beach, FL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.9% of gross income.

Santa Rosa Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Santa Rosa Beach median rent
$1,942/mo
Firefighter salary (Florida)
$58,413/yr
Rent as % of income
39.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,868, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,460/mo in rent. Santa Rosa Beach's median rent of $1,942 exceeds that threshold by $482/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 69.2 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 Santa Rosa Beach, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Winter Springs, FL
$1,941/mo (39.9% of income)
San Antonio, FL
$1,941/mo (39.9% of income)
Oldsmar, FL
$1,941/mo (39.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Santa Rosa Beach

View full rent data for Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Santa Rosa Beach, FL?

Median rent in Santa Rosa Beach is $1,942 a month. A typical firefighter in Florida earns about $58,413 a year, which makes that rent 39.9% 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 Santa Rosa Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Florida (~$58,413/yr) supports up to $1,460 a month in rent. Santa Rosa Beach's current median rent is $1,942/mo, which is $482/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Santa Rosa Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Florida works roughly 69.2 hours a month to cover Santa Rosa Beach's median rent of $1,942.

Where is rent cheaper than Santa Rosa Beach for a firefighter?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Winter Springs ($1,941/mo), San Antonio ($1,941/mo), Oldsmar ($1,941/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 Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.