Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Dallas, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Dallas rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Dallas median rent
$1,618/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Texas)
$64,924/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,410, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,623/mo in rent. Dallas's median rent of $1,618 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 51.8 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Dallas, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Odessa, TX
$1,617/mo (29.9% of income)
Grand Prairie, TX
$1,617/mo (29.9% of income)
Harker Heights, TX
$1,617/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dallas

View full rent data for Dallas, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Dallas, TX?

Median rent in Dallas is $1,618 a month. A typical real estate agent in Texas earns about $64,924 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Texas (~$64,924/yr) supports up to $1,623 a month in rent. Dallas's current median rent is $1,618/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a real estate agent in Texas works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Dallas's median rent of $1,618.

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

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Odessa ($1,617/mo), Grand Prairie ($1,617/mo), Harker Heights ($1,617/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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