Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Lincoln, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.5% of gross income.

Lincoln rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Lincoln median rent
$1,345/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Nebraska)
$60,989/yr
Rent as % of income
26.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,082, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,525/mo in rent. Lincoln's median rent of $1,345 leaves roughly $180/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 45.9 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Lincoln, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

La Vista, NE
$1,341/mo (26.4% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,340/mo (26.4% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,339/mo (26.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lincoln

View full rent data for Lincoln, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Lincoln, NE?

Median rent in Lincoln is $1,345 a month. A typical real estate agent in Nebraska earns about $60,989 a year, which makes that rent 26.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Nebraska (~$60,989/yr) supports up to $1,525 a month in rent. Lincoln's current median rent is $1,345/mo, which leaves a $180/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Nebraska works roughly 45.9 hours a month to cover Lincoln's median rent of $1,345.

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

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include La Vista ($1,341/mo), Bellevue ($1,340/mo), Bellevue ($1,339/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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