Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in South Gate, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.6% of gross income.

South Gate rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

South Gate median rent
$2,020/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
38.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. South Gate's median rent of $2,020 exceeds that threshold by $451/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 67 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 South Gate, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Fair Oaks, CA
$2,019/mo (38.6% of income)
Yucaipa, CA
$2,019/mo (38.6% of income)
Florin, CA
$2,018/mo (38.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Gate

View full rent data for South Gate, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in South Gate, CA?

Median rent in South Gate is $2,020 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 38.6% 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 South Gate?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. South Gate's current median rent is $2,020/mo, which is $451/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 67 hours a month to cover South Gate's median rent of $2,020.

Where is rent cheaper than South Gate for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Fair Oaks ($2,019/mo), Yucaipa ($2,019/mo), Florin ($2,018/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 South Gate, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.