Rental homes are out of reach for "millions" of low-wage workers — in Florida alone, you'd have to work 91 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom at minimum wage.
That's according to the 2026 Out of Reach report, published by The National Low Income Housing Coalition, a self-described nonprofit advocacy organization based in Washington, DC.
The report lists "housing wages" by state and metro area, which it defines as estimates of the income required to afford a rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent without spending 30% of one's wages on housing. Nationally, the housing wage for 2026 was $34.73 per hour for a "modest" two-bedroom rental, and $29.19 for a one-bedroom rental. The average hourly wage for renters was $24.84.
Florida's housing wage
Florida ranked as the 10th
most expensive state overall, with an hourly housing wage of $37.93 required to afford a two-bedroom apartment, for which the fair market rent was listed as $1,973.
That means, to "afford this level of rent and utilities" without spending more than 30% of their income on housing, a renter in Florida must earn $6,575 per month, or $78,905 per year.
South Florida proved especially expensive
Within the state, Monroe County, home of the Florida Keys, was first on the list of most expensive areas, requiring a housing wage of $48.15 to afford a two bedroom at fair market rent. Monroe County also ranked as the second most expensive nonmetropolitan county or county equivalent nationally, beat only by Nantucket town in Massachusetts.
The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall area followed closely, with a housing wage of $46.85 required to afford a two-bedroom. The Fort Lauderdale area required an hourly wage of $44.87, and the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area required a wage of $43.35.
Meanwhile, the state's minimum wage is $14, while the average renter's wage is $24.27, according to the report.
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida residents face massive gap in rental affordability
