Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Kelso, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.4% of gross income.

Kelso rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Kelso median rent
$1,553/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Washington)
$73,450/yr
Rent as % of income
25.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,836/mo in rent. Kelso's median rent of $1,553 leaves roughly $283/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 44 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kelso, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (25.4% of income)
Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (25.4% of income)
Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (25.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kelso

View full rent data for Kelso, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Kelso, WA?

Median rent in Kelso is $1,553 a month. A typical real estate agent in Washington earns about $73,450 a year, which makes that rent 25.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Washington (~$73,450/yr) supports up to $1,836 a month in rent. Kelso's current median rent is $1,553/mo, which leaves a $283/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a real estate agent in Washington works roughly 44 hours a month to cover Kelso's median rent of $1,553.

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

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,552/mo), Moses Lake ($1,552/mo), Moses Lake ($1,552/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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