Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in El Portal, FL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.5% of gross income.
El Portal 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 El Portal, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for El Portal
View full rent data for El Portal, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in El Portal, FL?
Median rent in El Portal is $2,427 a month. A typical police officer in Florida earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 40.5% 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 El Portal?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Florida (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. El Portal's current median rent is $2,427/mo, which is $630/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in El Portal?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Florida works roughly 70.2 hours a month to cover El Portal's median rent of $2,427.
Where is rent cheaper than El Portal for a police officer?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Lakewood Ranch ($2,426/mo), Lakewood Ranch ($2,425/mo), Deerfield Beach ($2,425/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.