Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Big Pine Key, FL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 91.8% of gross income.
Big Pine Key rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Florida cities have lower median rent than Big Pine Key, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Big Pine Key
View full rent data for Big Pine Key, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Big Pine Key, FL?
Median rent in Big Pine Key is $5,500 a month. A typical police officer in Florida earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 91.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Big Pine Key?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Florida (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. Big Pine Key's current median rent is $5,500/mo, which is $3,703/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Big Pine Key?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Florida works roughly 159.2 hours a month to cover Big Pine Key's median rent of $5,500.
Where is rent cheaper than Big Pine Key for a police officer?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Parkland ($5,495/mo), Marco Island ($5,440/mo), Pinecrest ($5,405/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.