Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Barling, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Barling rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Barling median rent
$1,092/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Arkansas)
$30,768/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,564, and the 30% rule supports up to $769/mo in rent. Barling's median rent of $1,092 exceeds that threshold by $323/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 73.8 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Barling, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Sherwood, AR
$1,091/mo (42.6% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,086/mo (42.4% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,084/mo (42.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Barling

View full rent data for Barling, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Barling, AR?

Median rent in Barling is $1,092 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Arkansas earns about $30,768 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Barling?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Arkansas (~$30,768/yr) supports up to $769 a month in rent. Barling's current median rent is $1,092/mo, which is $323/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a retail salesperson in Arkansas works roughly 73.8 hours a month to cover Barling's median rent of $1,092.

Where is rent cheaper than Barling for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Sherwood ($1,091/mo), Mountain Home ($1,086/mo), Mountain Home ($1,084/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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