Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Saint Paul median rent
$1,480/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Minnesota)
$68,203/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,684, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,705/mo in rent. Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480 leaves roughly $225/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 45.1 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 Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,479/mo (26% of income)
Burnsville, MN
$1,477/mo (26% of income)
Duluth, MN
$1,477/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Paul

View full rent data for Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in Saint Paul is $1,480 a month. A typical real estate agent in Minnesota earns about $68,203 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Minnesota (~$68,203/yr) supports up to $1,705 a month in rent. Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which leaves a $225/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a real estate agent in Minnesota works roughly 45.1 hours a month to cover Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Paul for a real estate agent?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,479/mo), Burnsville ($1,477/mo), Duluth ($1,477/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 Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.