Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 147.4% of gross income.

Carmel-by-the-Sea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Carmel-by-the-Sea median rent
$5,742/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
147.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,742 exceeds that threshold by $4,573/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 255.5 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 California cities have lower median rent than Carmel-by-the-Sea, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Los Altos, CA
$5,734/mo (147.2% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$5,728/mo (147.1% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$5,723/mo (146.9% of income)

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Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Median rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $5,742 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 147.4% 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's current median rent is $5,742/mo, which is $4,573/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 255.5 hours a month to cover Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,742.

Where is rent cheaper than Carmel-by-the-Sea for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($5,734/mo), Saratoga ($5,728/mo), Saratoga ($5,723/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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