Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Chelsea, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.1% of gross income.

Chelsea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Chelsea median rent
$2,151/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Alabama)
$85,751/yr
Rent as % of income
30.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,146, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,144/mo in rent. Chelsea's median rent of $2,151 exceeds that threshold by $7/mo, putting a physical therapist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A physical therapist works roughly 52.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Pike Road, AL
$2,137/mo (29.9% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,136/mo (29.9% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,128/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chelsea

View full rent data for Chelsea, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Chelsea, AL?

Median rent in Chelsea is $2,151 a month. A typical physical therapist in Alabama earns about $85,751 a year, which makes that rent 30.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Chelsea?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Alabama (~$85,751/yr) supports up to $2,144 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $7/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Chelsea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $41 an hour, a physical therapist in Alabama works roughly 52.2 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,151.

Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a physical therapist?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Pike Road ($2,137/mo), Fairhope ($2,136/mo), Fairhope ($2,128/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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