Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Albany, NY?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.
Albany rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York 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 New York cities have lower median rent than Albany, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albany
View full rent data for Albany, NY →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Albany, NY?
Median rent in Albany is $1,611 a month. A typical real estate agent in New York earns about $74,761 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 Albany?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in New York (~$74,761/yr) supports up to $1,869 a month in rent. Albany's current median rent is $1,611/mo, which leaves a $258/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Albany?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a real estate agent in New York works roughly 44.8 hours a month to cover Albany's median rent of $1,611.
Where is rent cheaper than Albany for a real estate agent?
Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Syracuse ($1,609/mo), Canandaigua ($1,605/mo), Syracuse ($1,605/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.