Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 77.9% of gross income.

South Padre Island rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

South Padre Island median rent
$4,212/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Texas)
$64,924/yr
Rent as % of income
77.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,410, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,623/mo in rent. South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212 exceeds that threshold by $2,589/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 134.9 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

University Park, TX
$4,163/mo (76.9% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,358/mo (62.1% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,274/mo (60.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island

View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical real estate agent in Texas earns about $64,924 a year, which makes that rent 77.9% 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 South Padre Island?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Texas (~$64,924/yr) supports up to $1,623 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $2,589/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in South Padre Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a real estate agent in Texas works roughly 134.9 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.

Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a real estate agent?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/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 South Padre Island, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.