Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Wasilla, AK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.5% of gross income.

Wasilla rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Wasilla median rent
$2,023/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Alaska)
$41,518/yr
Rent as % of income
58.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,460, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,038/mo in rent. Wasilla's median rent of $2,023 exceeds that threshold by $985/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 101.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Wasilla, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

North Pole, AK
$1,994/mo (57.6% of income)
North Pole, AK
$1,969/mo (56.9% of income)
North Pole, AK
$1,961/mo (56.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wasilla

View full rent data for Wasilla, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Wasilla, AK?

Median rent in Wasilla is $2,023 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Alaska earns about $41,518 a year, which makes that rent 58.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Wasilla?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Alaska (~$41,518/yr) supports up to $1,038 a month in rent. Wasilla's current median rent is $2,023/mo, which is $985/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Wasilla?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a retail salesperson in Alaska works roughly 101.3 hours a month to cover Wasilla's median rent of $2,023.

Where is rent cheaper than Wasilla for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include North Pole ($1,994/mo), North Pole ($1,969/mo), North Pole ($1,961/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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