Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Bismarck, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.

Bismarck rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Bismarck median rent
$1,372/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (North Dakota)
$63,613/yr
Rent as % of income
25.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,301, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,590/mo in rent. Bismarck's median rent of $1,372 leaves roughly $218/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 44.9 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Bismarck, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Williston, ND
$1,353/mo (25.5% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,350/mo (25.5% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,336/mo (25.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bismarck

View full rent data for Bismarck, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Bismarck, ND?

Median rent in Bismarck is $1,372 a month. A typical real estate agent in North Dakota earns about $63,613 a year, which makes that rent 25.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in North Dakota (~$63,613/yr) supports up to $1,590 a month in rent. Bismarck's current median rent is $1,372/mo, which leaves a $218/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a real estate agent in North Dakota works roughly 44.9 hours a month to cover Bismarck's median rent of $1,372.

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

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Williston ($1,353/mo), West Fargo ($1,350/mo), West Fargo ($1,336/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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