Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Foster City, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 107.3% of gross income.

Foster City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Foster City median rent
$4,181/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
107.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Foster City's median rent of $4,181 exceeds that threshold by $3,012/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 186.1 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 Foster City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Newport Beach, CA
$4,177/mo (107.2% of income)
Mountain View, CA
$4,177/mo (107.2% of income)
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
$4,172/mo (107.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Foster City

View full rent data for Foster City, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Foster City, CA?

Median rent in Foster City is $4,181 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 107.3% 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 Foster City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Foster City's current median rent is $4,181/mo, which is $3,012/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 186.1 hours a month to cover Foster City's median rent of $4,181.

Where is rent cheaper than Foster City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Newport Beach ($4,177/mo), Mountain View ($4,177/mo), Carmel-by-the-Sea ($4,172/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 Foster City, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.