Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Steamboat Springs, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 109.7% of gross income.

Steamboat Springs rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Steamboat Springs median rent
$3,558/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Colorado)
$38,924/yr
Rent as % of income
109.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,244, and the 30% rule supports up to $973/mo in rent. Steamboat Springs's median rent of $3,558 exceeds that threshold by $2,585/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 190.1 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Steamboat Springs, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Silverthorne, CO
$3,539/mo (109.1% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,532/mo (108.9% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,466/mo (106.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Steamboat Springs

View full rent data for Steamboat Springs, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Steamboat Springs, CO?

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $3,558 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Colorado earns about $38,924 a year, which makes that rent 109.7% 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 Steamboat Springs?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Colorado (~$38,924/yr) supports up to $973 a month in rent. Steamboat Springs's current median rent is $3,558/mo, which is $2,585/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Colorado works roughly 190.1 hours a month to cover Steamboat Springs's median rent of $3,558.

Where is rent cheaper than Steamboat Springs for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Silverthorne ($3,539/mo), Silverthorne ($3,532/mo), Silverthorne ($3,466/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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