Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.
Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).
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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea
View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Minnesota earns about $38,553 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Albert Lea?
Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Minnesota (~$38,553/yr) supports up to $964 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $4/mo buffer.
How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Albert Lea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Minnesota works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a retail salesperson?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.