Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Montebello, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.3% of gross income.

Montebello rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Montebello median rent
$2,837/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
54.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Montebello's median rent of $2,837 exceeds that threshold by $1,268/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 94 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 Montebello, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Berkeley, CA
$2,836/mo (54.2% of income)
Imperial Beach, CA
$2,835/mo (54.2% of income)
Lincoln, CA
$2,835/mo (54.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montebello

View full rent data for Montebello, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Montebello, CA?

Median rent in Montebello is $2,837 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 54.3% 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 Montebello?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Montebello's current median rent is $2,837/mo, which is $1,268/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 94 hours a month to cover Montebello's median rent of $2,837.

Where is rent cheaper than Montebello for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Berkeley ($2,836/mo), Imperial Beach ($2,835/mo), Lincoln ($2,835/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 Montebello, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.