Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Key West, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.2% of gross income.

Key West rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Key West median rent
$3,312/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Florida)
$60,989/yr
Rent as % of income
65.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,082, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,525/mo in rent. Key West's median rent of $3,312 exceeds that threshold by $1,787/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 113 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Bay Harbor Islands, FL
$3,303/mo (65% of income)
Islamorada, FL
$3,297/mo (64.9% of income)
Redington Shores, FL
$3,288/mo (64.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Key West

View full rent data for Key West, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Key West, FL?

Median rent in Key West is $3,312 a month. A typical real estate agent in Florida earns about $60,989 a year, which makes that rent 65.2% 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 Key West?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Florida (~$60,989/yr) supports up to $1,525 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,312/mo, which is $1,787/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Florida works roughly 113 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,312.

Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a real estate agent?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Bay Harbor Islands ($3,303/mo), Islamorada ($3,297/mo), Redington Shores ($3,288/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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