Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Kansas City, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.1% of gross income.

Kansas City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Kansas City median rent
$1,319/mo
Paramedic salary (Kansas)
$47,862/yr
Rent as % of income
33.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,989, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,197/mo in rent. Kansas City's median rent of $1,319 exceeds that threshold by $122/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 57.3 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Kansas City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Shawnee, KS
$1,310/mo (32.8% of income)
Leavenworth, KS
$1,305/mo (32.7% of income)
Manhattan, KS
$1,293/mo (32.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kansas City

View full rent data for Kansas City, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Kansas City, KS?

Median rent in Kansas City is $1,319 a month. A typical paramedic in Kansas earns about $47,862 a year, which makes that rent 33.1% 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 Kansas City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Kansas (~$47,862/yr) supports up to $1,197 a month in rent. Kansas City's current median rent is $1,319/mo, which is $122/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Kansas works roughly 57.3 hours a month to cover Kansas City's median rent of $1,319.

Where is rent cheaper than Kansas City for a paramedic?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Shawnee ($1,310/mo), Leavenworth ($1,305/mo), Manhattan ($1,293/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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