Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Decatur, GA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.

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

Decatur median rent
$1,762/mo
Paramedic salary (Georgia)
$50,521/yr
Rent as % of income
41.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,210, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,762 exceeds that threshold by $499/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 72.5 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Jefferson, GA
$1,761/mo (41.8% of income)
Newnan, GA
$1,761/mo (41.8% of income)
Doraville, GA
$1,761/mo (41.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Decatur, GA?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,762 a month. A typical paramedic in Georgia earns about $50,521 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% 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 Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Georgia (~$50,521/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,762/mo, which is $499/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Georgia works roughly 72.5 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,762.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a paramedic?

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Jefferson ($1,761/mo), Newnan ($1,761/mo), Doraville ($1,761/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 Decatur, GA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.