Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Tea, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.2% of gross income.

Tea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Tea median rent
$1,165/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (South Dakota)
$57,710/yr
Rent as % of income
24.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,809, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Tea's median rent of $1,165 leaves roughly $278/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 42 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Tea, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Brookings, SD
$1,163/mo (24.2% of income)
Brookings, SD
$1,143/mo (23.8% of income)
Aberdeen, SD
$1,098/mo (22.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tea

View full rent data for Tea, SD →

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Tea, SD?

Median rent in Tea is $1,165 a month. A typical real estate agent in South Dakota earns about $57,710 a year, which makes that rent 24.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in South Dakota (~$57,710/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Tea's current median rent is $1,165/mo, which leaves a $278/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in South Dakota works roughly 42 hours a month to cover Tea's median rent of $1,165.

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

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Brookings ($1,163/mo), Brookings ($1,143/mo), Aberdeen ($1,098/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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