Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.6% of gross income.

Hilton Head Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Hilton Head Island median rent
$3,106/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (South Carolina)
$57,710/yr
Rent as % of income
64.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,809, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Hilton Head Island's median rent of $3,106 exceeds that threshold by $1,663/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 111.9 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Hilton Head Island, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Mount Pleasant, SC
$2,425/mo (50.4% of income)
Pawleys Island, SC
$2,400/mo (49.9% of income)
Mount Pleasant, SC
$2,386/mo (49.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hilton Head Island

View full rent data for Hilton Head Island, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Median rent in Hilton Head Island is $3,106 a month. A typical real estate agent in South Carolina earns about $57,710 a year, which makes that rent 64.6% 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 Hilton Head Island?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in South Carolina (~$57,710/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Hilton Head Island's current median rent is $3,106/mo, which is $1,663/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Hilton Head Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in South Carolina works roughly 111.9 hours a month to cover Hilton Head Island's median rent of $3,106.

Where is rent cheaper than Hilton Head Island for a real estate agent?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Mount Pleasant ($2,425/mo), Pawleys Island ($2,400/mo), Mount Pleasant ($2,386/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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