Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Opelousas, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.

Opelousas rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Opelousas median rent
$994/mo
Paramedic salary (Louisiana)
$46,267/yr
Rent as % of income
25.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Opelousas's median rent of $994 leaves roughly $163/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 44.7 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Opelousas, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Pineville, LA
$991/mo (25.7% of income)
Pineville, LA
$980/mo (25.4% of income)
Monroe, LA
$976/mo (25.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Opelousas

View full rent data for Opelousas, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Opelousas, LA?

Median rent in Opelousas is $994 a month. A typical paramedic in Louisiana earns about $46,267 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Opelousas?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Louisiana (~$46,267/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Opelousas's current median rent is $994/mo, which leaves a $163/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Louisiana works roughly 44.7 hours a month to cover Opelousas's median rent of $994.

Where is rent cheaper than Opelousas for a paramedic?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Pineville ($991/mo), Pineville ($980/mo), Monroe ($976/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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