Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Little Rock, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.5% of gross income.

Little Rock rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Little Rock median rent
$1,220/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Arkansas)
$32,876/yr
Rent as % of income
44.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,740, and the 30% rule supports up to $822/mo in rent. Little Rock's median rent of $1,220 exceeds that threshold by $398/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Little Rock, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Maumelle, AR
$1,219/mo (44.5% of income)
Maumelle, AR
$1,214/mo (44.3% of income)
Greenwood, AR
$1,213/mo (44.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Little Rock

View full rent data for Little Rock, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Little Rock, AR?

Median rent in Little Rock is $1,220 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Arkansas earns about $32,876 a year, which makes that rent 44.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Little Rock?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Arkansas (~$32,876/yr) supports up to $822 a month in rent. Little Rock's current median rent is $1,220/mo, which is $398/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Little Rock?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Arkansas works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover Little Rock's median rent of $1,220.

Where is rent cheaper than Little Rock for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Maumelle ($1,219/mo), Maumelle ($1,214/mo), Greenwood ($1,213/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Arkansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Little Rock, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.