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Can You Afford a 3-Bedroom in El Paso? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $973/month as a proxy for the 3-bedroom in El Paso. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $46,000/year before taxes.HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 3-bedroom in El Paso. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $973/month as a proxy.

HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 3-bedroom in El Paso. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $973/month as a proxy.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $973/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$20,030$1,50064.9%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$21,610$1,60860.5%Too much
Median$21,610$1,60860.5%Too much
Experienced (75th pct.)$28,510$2,07946.8%Too much
Top earners (90th pct.)$31,600$2,28642.6%Too much

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 3-Bedroom in El Paso

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Family Medicine Physicians
$213,550/yr median
Tax Preparers
$59,990/yr median
Web Developers
$64,490/yr median
Technical Writers
$62,830/yr median
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
$49,270/yr median
General and Operations Managers
$77,770/yr median
Registered Nurses
$86,100/yr median
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$57,930/yr median

Keep exploring El Paso

Top paying jobs in El PasoCost of living in El PasoCan you afford a 1-bedroom?

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 3-bedroom in El Paso?
You need roughly $46,000/year gross to keep a 3-bedroom at $973/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That uses current federal and TX state tax brackets with FICA, assuming single filing and the standard deduction.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 3-bedroom in El Paso?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for El Paso as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,091/month as a proxy.
Is El Paso expensive for renters?
El Paso is below the national average in cost. A 3-bedroom at the HUD FMR of $973/month is more manageable here than in most metros.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in El Paso?
The following occupations in El Paso have median salaries that keep 3-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Family Medicine Physicians, Tax Preparers, Web Developers, Technical Writers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses, First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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