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5 cities where fire salary and housing prices don’t add up

Can you afford to live in the city you protect?

Do you know how much of your paycheck you should commit to rent or mortgage in order to leave room for ancillary expenses and savings? Everyone’s situation is different, but financial experts have estimated a number for this question — ideally, 25 percent (or less) of your gross paycheck should be committed to housing. What happens when your profession is notorious for modest paychecks, and the city you’re protecting is notorious for high housing costs? Here are five instances where the 25 percent rule isn’t realistic.

1. Los Angeles

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A rookie would need to spend 71.34 percent of his or her gross income on rent. A top step firefighter would need to spend 51.54 percent of his or her gross income on rent in Los Angeles.

2. New York

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A rookie firefighter would not be able to independently pay for rent in New York at this rate. A top step firefighter would need to spend 70.60 percent of his or her gross income on rent in The Big Apple.

3. Denver

A rookie would need to spend 51.96 percent of his or her gross income on rent. A top step firefighter would need to spend 33.77 percent of his or her gross income on rent in the Mile-High City.

4. Portland, Oregon

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A rookie would need to spend 53.65 percent of his or her gross income on rent. A top step firefighter would need to spend 29.69 percent of his or her gross income on rent in Portland.

5. Austin

A rookie would need to spend 71.48 percent of his or her gross income on rent. A top step firefighter would need to spend 33.87 percent of his or her gross income on rent in Austin.

Notes on the methodology:

  • The median rent considers apartments sized from a studio to a four-bedroom unit.
  • To find out more about your personal situation and what a realistic mortgage or rent payment would be, we recommend looking at NerdWallet’s “How much house can I afford” calculator and Zillow’s rent affordability calculator.

The FireRescue1 Lifestyle content series is written for the off-duty firefighter. Here you’ll find content on everything from the latest automotive and entertainment trends to tips and tricks for financial planning – all written from a firefighter’s perspective, with an eye toward what makes you unique even when you’re not at the station.