Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Rochester, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.2% of gross income.

Rochester rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Rochester median rent
$1,602/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Minnesota)
$68,203/yr
Rent as % of income
28.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,684, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,705/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $1,602 leaves roughly $103/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 48.9 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Monticello, MN
$1,599/mo (28.1% of income)
Coon Rapids, MN
$1,597/mo (28.1% of income)
Coon Rapids, MN
$1,597/mo (28.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, MN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Rochester, MN?

Median rent in Rochester is $1,602 a month. A typical real estate agent in Minnesota earns about $68,203 a year, which makes that rent 28.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Minnesota (~$68,203/yr) supports up to $1,705 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,602/mo, which leaves a $103/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a real estate agent in Minnesota works roughly 48.9 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,602.

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

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Monticello ($1,599/mo), Coon Rapids ($1,597/mo), Coon Rapids ($1,597/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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