Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.1% of gross income.

Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Saint Paul median rent
$1,480/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
32.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $97/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 55.7 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,479/mo (32.1% of income)
Burnsville, MN
$1,477/mo (32% of income)
Duluth, MN
$1,477/mo (32% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Paul

View full rent data for Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in Saint Paul is $1,480 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 32.1% 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 Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Minnesota (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $97/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Minnesota works roughly 55.7 hours a month to cover Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Paul for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,479/mo), Burnsville ($1,477/mo), Duluth ($1,477/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 Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.