Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Del Mar, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 150.4% of gross income.

Del Mar rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Del Mar median rent
$7,867/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
150.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Del Mar's median rent of $7,867 exceeds that threshold by $6,298/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 260.8 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 Del Mar, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Los Altos, CA
$7,513/mo (143.7% of income)
San Marino, CA
$7,489/mo (143.2% of income)
Topanga, CA
$7,150/mo (136.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Del Mar

View full rent data for Del Mar, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Del Mar, CA?

Median rent in Del Mar is $7,867 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 150.4% 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 Del Mar?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Del Mar's current median rent is $7,867/mo, which is $6,298/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Del Mar?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 260.8 hours a month to cover Del Mar's median rent of $7,867.

Where is rent cheaper than Del Mar for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($7,513/mo), San Marino ($7,489/mo), Topanga ($7,150/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 Del Mar, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.