Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Atlanta, GA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.4% of gross income.

Atlanta rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia state estimate).

Atlanta median rent
$1,911/mo
Paramedic salary (Georgia)
$50,521/yr
Rent as % of income
45.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,210, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Atlanta's median rent of $1,911 exceeds that threshold by $648/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 78.7 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than Atlanta, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Jefferson, GA
$1,910/mo (45.4% of income)
Douglasville, GA
$1,909/mo (45.3% of income)
Suwanee, GA
$1,908/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Atlanta

View full rent data for Atlanta, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Atlanta, GA?

Median rent in Atlanta is $1,911 a month. A typical paramedic in Georgia earns about $50,521 a year, which makes that rent 45.4% 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 Atlanta?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Georgia (~$50,521/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Atlanta's current median rent is $1,911/mo, which is $648/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Georgia works roughly 78.7 hours a month to cover Atlanta's median rent of $1,911.

Where is rent cheaper than Atlanta for a paramedic?

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Jefferson ($1,910/mo), Douglasville ($1,909/mo), Suwanee ($1,908/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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