Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Duluth, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.4% of gross income.

Duluth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Duluth median rent
$1,458/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Minnesota)
$38,553/yr
Rent as % of income
45.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,213, and the 30% rule supports up to $964/mo in rent. Duluth's median rent of $1,458 exceeds that threshold by $494/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 78.7 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Duluth, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,457/mo (45.4% of income)
Little Canada, MN
$1,454/mo (45.3% of income)
South Saint Paul, MN
$1,453/mo (45.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Duluth

View full rent data for Duluth, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Duluth, MN?

Median rent in Duluth is $1,458 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Minnesota earns about $38,553 a year, which makes that rent 45.4% 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 Duluth?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Minnesota (~$38,553/yr) supports up to $964 a month in rent. Duluth's current median rent is $1,458/mo, which is $494/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Minnesota works roughly 78.7 hours a month to cover Duluth's median rent of $1,458.

Where is rent cheaper than Duluth for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,457/mo), Little Canada ($1,454/mo), South Saint Paul ($1,453/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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