Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Cincinnati, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 30% of gross income.

Cincinnati rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Cincinnati median rent
$1,475/mo
Firefighter salary (Ohio)
$59,041/yr
Rent as % of income
30%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,920, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Cincinnati's median rent of $1,475 leaves roughly $1/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 52 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Cincinnati, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Amelia, OH
$1,473/mo (29.9% of income)
Forest Park, OH
$1,472/mo (29.9% of income)
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
$1,471/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cincinnati

View full rent data for Cincinnati, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?

Median rent in Cincinnati is $1,475 a month. A typical firefighter in Ohio earns about $59,041 a year, which makes that rent 30% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Cincinnati?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Ohio (~$59,041/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Cincinnati's current median rent is $1,475/mo, which leaves a $1/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Ohio works roughly 52 hours a month to cover Cincinnati's median rent of $1,475.

Where is rent cheaper than Cincinnati for a firefighter?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Amelia ($1,473/mo), Forest Park ($1,472/mo), Cuyahoga Falls ($1,471/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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