Rent Affordability for Software Developers in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest software developer pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $172,638/yr | $4,316/mo | View cities › |
| California | $162,970/yr | $4,074/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $160,208/yr | $4,005/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $157,445/yr | $3,936/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $154,683/yr | $3,867/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $154,683/yr | $3,867/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $154,683/yr | $3,867/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $151,921/yr | $3,798/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $149,159/yr | $3,729/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $149,159/yr | $3,729/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest software developer pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $111,869/yr | $2,797/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $114,631/yr | $2,866/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $117,394/yr | $2,935/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $118,775/yr | $2,969/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $120,156/yr | $3,004/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $121,537/yr | $3,038/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $121,537/yr | $3,038/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $121,537/yr | $3,038/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $121,537/yr | $3,038/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $121,537/yr | $3,038/mo | View cities › |
All states
Frequently asked questions
Where can a software developer maximize rent affordability?
In mid-cost metros where developer pay is at or above the national mean but rent is well below it. Many Texas, North Carolina, and Mountain West cities currently offer this combination.
What rent can a software developer afford?
At the BLS national mean of $138,110, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — above the median for nearly every US metro.