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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.3% of gross income.

Decatur rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Decatur median rent
$1,093/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Alabama)
$56,399/yr
Rent as % of income
23.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,700, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,410/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,093 leaves roughly $317/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 40.3 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Dothan, AL
$1,091/mo (23.2% of income)
Jacksonville, AL
$1,090/mo (23.2% of income)
Dothan, AL
$1,088/mo (23.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, AL

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Decatur is $1,093 a month. A typical real estate agent in Alabama earns about $56,399 a year, which makes that rent 23.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Alabama (~$56,399/yr) supports up to $1,410 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,093/mo, which leaves a $317/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a real estate agent in Alabama works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,093.

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

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Dothan ($1,091/mo), Jacksonville ($1,090/mo), Dothan ($1,088/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 Decatur, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.