Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Columbus, MS?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 30% of gross income.
Columbus rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).
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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Columbus, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Columbus
View full rent data for Columbus, MS →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Columbus, MS?
Median rent in Columbus is $1,326 a month. A typical real estate agent in Mississippi earns about $53,120 a year, which makes that rent 30% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Columbus?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Mississippi (~$53,120/yr) supports up to $1,328 a month in rent. Columbus's current median rent is $1,326/mo, which leaves a $2/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Columbus?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a real estate agent in Mississippi works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Columbus's median rent of $1,326.
Where is rent cheaper than Columbus for a real estate agent?
Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Gautier ($1,324/mo), Hattiesburg ($1,321/mo), Biloxi ($1,318/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.