Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Vienna, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 112.2% of gross income.

Vienna rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Vienna median rent
$3,536/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Virginia)
$37,811/yr
Rent as % of income
112.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,151, and the 30% rule supports up to $945/mo in rent. Vienna's median rent of $3,536 exceeds that threshold by $2,591/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 194.5 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Vienna, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Haymarket, VA
$3,509/mo (111.4% of income)
Haymarket, VA
$3,444/mo (109.3% of income)
Haymarket, VA
$3,411/mo (108.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Vienna

View full rent data for Vienna, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Vienna, VA?

Median rent in Vienna is $3,536 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Virginia earns about $37,811 a year, which makes that rent 112.2% 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 Vienna?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Virginia (~$37,811/yr) supports up to $945 a month in rent. Vienna's current median rent is $3,536/mo, which is $2,591/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Virginia works roughly 194.5 hours a month to cover Vienna's median rent of $3,536.

Where is rent cheaper than Vienna for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Haymarket ($3,509/mo), Haymarket ($3,444/mo), Haymarket ($3,411/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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