Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Portales, NM?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.6% of gross income.
Portales rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).
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.
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View full rent data for Portales, NM →Frequently asked questions
Can a paramedic afford rent in Portales, NM?
Median rent in Portales is $862 a month. A typical paramedic in New Mexico earns about $47,862 a year, which makes that rent 21.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a paramedic afford in Portales?
Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Mexico (~$47,862/yr) supports up to $1,197 a month in rent. Portales's current median rent is $862/mo, which leaves a $335/mo buffer.
How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Portales?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in New Mexico works roughly 37.5 hours a month to cover Portales's median rent of $862.