Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Cathedral City, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.4% of gross income.

Cathedral City rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Cathedral City median rent
$2,321/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
44.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Cathedral City's median rent of $2,321 exceeds that threshold by $752/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 76.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Cathedral City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Gardena, CA
$2,320/mo (44.4% of income)
Whittier, CA
$2,320/mo (44.4% of income)
Highland, CA
$2,319/mo (44.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cathedral City

View full rent data for Cathedral City, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Cathedral City, CA?

Median rent in Cathedral City is $2,321 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 44.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Cathedral City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Cathedral City's current median rent is $2,321/mo, which is $752/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Cathedral City?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 76.9 hours a month to cover Cathedral City's median rent of $2,321.

Where is rent cheaper than Cathedral City for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Gardena ($2,320/mo), Whittier ($2,320/mo), Highland ($2,319/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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