Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Carlsbad, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.

Carlsbad rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Carlsbad median rent
$1,568/mo
Physical Therapist salary (New Mexico)
$89,739/yr
Rent as % of income
21%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,478, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,243/mo in rent. Carlsbad's median rent of $1,568 leaves roughly $675/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 36.3 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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Carlsbad, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Santa Teresa, NM
$1,564/mo (20.9% of income)
Alamogordo, NM
$1,546/mo (20.7% of income)
Alamogordo, NM
$1,528/mo (20.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carlsbad

View full rent data for Carlsbad, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Carlsbad, NM?

Median rent in Carlsbad is $1,568 a month. A typical physical therapist in New Mexico earns about $89,739 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Carlsbad?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in New Mexico (~$89,739/yr) supports up to $2,243 a month in rent. Carlsbad's current median rent is $1,568/mo, which leaves a $675/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a physical therapist in New Mexico works roughly 36.3 hours a month to cover Carlsbad's median rent of $1,568.

Where is rent cheaper than Carlsbad for a physical therapist?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Santa Teresa ($1,564/mo), Alamogordo ($1,546/mo), Alamogordo ($1,528/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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