Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Topeka, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.

Topeka rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Topeka median rent
$1,283/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Kansas)
$59,022/yr
Rent as % of income
26.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,919, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Topeka's median rent of $1,283 leaves roughly $193/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 45.2 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Topeka, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Kansas City, KS
$1,274/mo (25.9% of income)
Leavenworth, KS
$1,273/mo (25.9% of income)
Overland Park, KS
$1,269/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Topeka

View full rent data for Topeka, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Topeka, KS?

Median rent in Topeka is $1,283 a month. A typical real estate agent in Kansas earns about $59,022 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Kansas (~$59,022/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Topeka's current median rent is $1,283/mo, which leaves a $193/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in Kansas works roughly 45.2 hours a month to cover Topeka's median rent of $1,283.

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

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Kansas City ($1,274/mo), Leavenworth ($1,273/mo), Overland Park ($1,269/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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