Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Aspen, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 387.7% of gross income.

Aspen rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Aspen median rent
$18,041/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
387.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Aspen's median rent of $18,041 exceeds that threshold by $16,645/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 672 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Aspen, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Basalt, CO
$5,900/mo (126.8% of income)
Vail, CO
$5,250/mo (112.8% of income)
Basalt, CO
$5,050/mo (108.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aspen

View full rent data for Aspen, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Aspen, CO?

Median rent in Aspen is $18,041 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 387.7% 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 Aspen?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Aspen's current median rent is $18,041/mo, which is $16,645/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 672 hours a month to cover Aspen's median rent of $18,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Aspen for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Basalt ($5,900/mo), Vail ($5,250/mo), Basalt ($5,050/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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