Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

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

Saint Cloud median rent
$1,232/mo
Firefighter salary (Minnesota)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232 leaves roughly $401/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 39.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Saint Cloud, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,226/mo (22.5% of income)
Mankato, MN
$1,217/mo (22.4% of income)
Waite Park, MN
$1,209/mo (22.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Cloud

View full rent data for Saint Cloud, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Median rent in Saint Cloud is $1,232 a month. A typical firefighter in Minnesota earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Saint Cloud?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Minnesota (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. Saint Cloud's current median rent is $1,232/mo, which leaves a $401/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Saint Cloud?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Minnesota works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Cloud for a firefighter?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,226/mo), Mankato ($1,217/mo), Waite Park ($1,209/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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