Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Nashville, TN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.
Nashville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Nashville, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Nashville
View full rent data for Nashville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Nashville, TN?
Median rent in Nashville is $1,825 a month. A typical real estate agent in Tennessee earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Nashville?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Tennessee (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Nashville's current median rent is $1,825/mo, which is $317/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Nashville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Tennessee works roughly 62.9 hours a month to cover Nashville's median rent of $1,825.
Where is rent cheaper than Nashville for a real estate agent?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Maryville ($1,824/mo), Lenoir City ($1,823/mo), Lenoir City ($1,821/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.