Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.8% of gross income.

Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Albert Lea median rent
$960/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
20.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Albert Lea's median rent of $960 leaves roughly $423/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 36.1 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Austin, MN
$947/mo (20.5% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (19.6% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (18.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea

View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 20.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Albert Lea?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Minnesota (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $423/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Minnesota works roughly 36.1 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.

Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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