Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Surprise, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.2% of gross income.

Surprise rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Surprise median rent
$1,927/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Arizona)
$38,422/yr
Rent as % of income
60.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,202, and the 30% rule supports up to $961/mo in rent. Surprise's median rent of $1,927 exceeds that threshold by $966/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 104.3 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Surprise, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Prescott, AZ
$1,925/mo (60.1% of income)
Prescott, AZ
$1,924/mo (60.1% of income)
Prescott, AZ
$1,924/mo (60.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Surprise

View full rent data for Surprise, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Surprise, AZ?

Median rent in Surprise is $1,927 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Arizona earns about $38,422 a year, which makes that rent 60.2% 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 Surprise?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Arizona (~$38,422/yr) supports up to $961 a month in rent. Surprise's current median rent is $1,927/mo, which is $966/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Arizona works roughly 104.3 hours a month to cover Surprise's median rent of $1,927.

Where is rent cheaper than Surprise for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Prescott ($1,925/mo), Prescott ($1,924/mo), Prescott ($1,924/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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