TAMPA, Fla. — It is becoming more difficult for the average American to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers housing to be affordable when a renter or homeowner does not have to devote more than 30% of their income to rent or a mortgage.
The new “Out of Reach” report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds a renter in the Tampa Bay area would need to earn $41,800 a year to afford the rent and utilities for a two-bedroom apartment. The average renter locally only makes $35,380.
The two-bedroom apartment in the Tampa Bay area costs $1,118 per month.
The housing situation is even more dire for low-income Floridians making the minimum wage. To afford a modest one-bedroom apartment you would need to work 84 hours a week while earning $8.25 an hour.
To find out find out how much you need to earn to afford a two-bedroom apartment in your area, simply enter your ZIP Code at nlihc.org/oor.
