Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lexington, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.8% of gross income.

Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Lexington median rent
$1,551/mo
Paramedic salary (Kentucky)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
39.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $1,551 exceeds that threshold by $381/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68.9 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Nicholasville, KY
$1,546/mo (39.6% of income)
Shepherdsville, KY
$1,543/mo (39.6% of income)
Newport, KY
$1,540/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lexington, KY?

Median rent in Lexington is $1,551 a month. A typical paramedic in Kentucky earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 39.8% 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 Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Kentucky (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,551/mo, which is $381/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Kentucky works roughly 68.9 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,551.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a paramedic?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Nicholasville ($1,546/mo), Shepherdsville ($1,543/mo), Newport ($1,540/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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