Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Key West, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.3% of gross income.

Key West rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Key West median rent
$3,351/mo
Paramedic salary (Florida)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
81.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Key West's median rent of $3,351 exceeds that threshold by $2,115/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 140.9 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,346/mo (81.2% of income)
Indian River Shores, FL
$3,333/mo (80.9% of income)
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,320/mo (80.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Key West

View full rent data for Key West, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Key West, FL?

Median rent in Key West is $3,351 a month. A typical paramedic in Florida earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 81.3% 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 Key West?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Florida (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,351/mo, which is $2,115/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Florida works roughly 140.9 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a paramedic?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Sunny Isles Beach ($3,346/mo), Indian River Shores ($3,333/mo), Sunny Isles Beach ($3,320/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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