Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Chelsea, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.

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

Chelsea median rent
$2,151/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Alabama)
$56,399/yr
Rent as % of income
45.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,700, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,410/mo in rent. Chelsea's median rent of $2,151 exceeds that threshold by $741/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 79.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Pike Road, AL
$2,137/mo (45.5% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,136/mo (45.4% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,128/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chelsea

View full rent data for Chelsea, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Chelsea, AL?

Median rent in Chelsea is $2,151 a month. A typical real estate agent in Alabama earns about $56,399 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Chelsea?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Alabama (~$56,399/yr) supports up to $1,410 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $741/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Chelsea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a real estate agent in Alabama works roughly 79.3 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,151.

Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a real estate agent?

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 real estate agent 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.