Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 80.1% of gross income.
Costa Mesa rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 Costa Mesa, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Costa Mesa
View full rent data for Costa Mesa, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
Median rent in Costa Mesa is $3,121 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 80.1% 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 Costa Mesa?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Costa Mesa's current median rent is $3,121/mo, which is $1,952/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Costa Mesa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 138.9 hours a month to cover Costa Mesa's median rent of $3,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Costa Mesa for a nursing assistant?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Pismo Beach ($3,120/mo), La Mirada ($3,119/mo), Novato ($3,118/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.