Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Livingston, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Livingston rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Livingston median rent
$1,473/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Montana)
$57,710/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,809, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Livingston's median rent of $1,473 exceeds that threshold by $30/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 53.1 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Livingston, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Butte, MT
$1,443/mo (30% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,433/mo (29.8% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,432/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Livingston

View full rent data for Livingston, MT →

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Livingston, MT?

Median rent in Livingston is $1,473 a month. A typical real estate agent in Montana earns about $57,710 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Livingston?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Montana (~$57,710/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Livingston's current median rent is $1,473/mo, which is $30/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in Montana works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover Livingston's median rent of $1,473.

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

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,443/mo), Great Falls ($1,433/mo), Butte ($1,432/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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