Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 96.9% of gross income.

Laguna Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Laguna Beach median rent
$5,068/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
96.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068 exceeds that threshold by $3,499/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 168 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 Laguna Beach, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Tiburon, CA
$5,059/mo (96.7% of income)
Topanga, CA
$5,025/mo (96.1% of income)
Westlake Village, CA
$5,001/mo (95.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laguna Beach

View full rent data for Laguna Beach, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Median rent in Laguna Beach is $5,068 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 96.9% 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 Laguna Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Laguna Beach's current median rent is $5,068/mo, which is $3,499/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Laguna Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 168 hours a month to cover Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Beach for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Tiburon ($5,059/mo), Topanga ($5,025/mo), Westlake Village ($5,001/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 Laguna Beach, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.