Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Durango, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.9% of gross income.

Durango rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Durango median rent
$1,997/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
42.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Durango's median rent of $1,997 exceeds that threshold by $601/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 74.4 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 Durango, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Monument, CO
$1,996/mo (42.9% of income)
Greenwood Village, CO
$1,995/mo (42.9% of income)
Lafayette, CO
$1,994/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Durango

View full rent data for Durango, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Durango, CO?

Median rent in Durango is $1,997 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 42.9% 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 Durango?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Durango's current median rent is $1,997/mo, which is $601/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 74.4 hours a month to cover Durango's median rent of $1,997.

Where is rent cheaper than Durango for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Monument ($1,996/mo), Greenwood Village ($1,995/mo), Lafayette ($1,994/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 Durango, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.