Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Monte Sereno, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 110.9% of gross income.

Monte Sereno rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Monte Sereno median rent
$7,150/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (California)
$77,384/yr
Rent as % of income
110.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,449, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,935/mo in rent. Monte Sereno's median rent of $7,150 exceeds that threshold by $5,215/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 192.2 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 California cities have lower median rent than Monte Sereno, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

San Marino, CA
$7,122/mo (110.4% of income)
Los Altos, CA
$7,055/mo (109.4% of income)
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
$6,967/mo (108% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monte Sereno

View full rent data for Monte Sereno, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Monte Sereno, CA?

Median rent in Monte Sereno is $7,150 a month. A typical real estate agent in California earns about $77,384 a year, which makes that rent 110.9% 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 Monte Sereno?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in California (~$77,384/yr) supports up to $1,935 a month in rent. Monte Sereno's current median rent is $7,150/mo, which is $5,215/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in California works roughly 192.2 hours a month to cover Monte Sereno's median rent of $7,150.

Where is rent cheaper than Monte Sereno for a real estate agent?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Marino ($7,122/mo), Los Altos ($7,055/mo), Palos Verdes Estates ($6,967/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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