Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.8% of gross income.

Moses Lake rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Moses Lake median rent
$1,481/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Washington)
$41,518/yr
Rent as % of income
42.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,460, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,038/mo in rent. Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481 exceeds that threshold by $443/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 74.2 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Moses Lake, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Spokane Valley, WA
$1,480/mo (42.8% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,480/mo (42.8% of income)
Chehalis, WA
$1,480/mo (42.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moses Lake

View full rent data for Moses Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Median rent in Moses Lake is $1,481 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Washington earns about $41,518 a year, which makes that rent 42.8% 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 Moses Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Washington (~$41,518/yr) supports up to $1,038 a month in rent. Moses Lake's current median rent is $1,481/mo, which is $443/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a retail salesperson in Washington works roughly 74.2 hours a month to cover Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481.

Where is rent cheaper than Moses Lake for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Spokane Valley ($1,480/mo), Centralia ($1,480/mo), Chehalis ($1,480/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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