Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Pacifica, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 92% of gross income.

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

Pacifica median rent
$3,584/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
92%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Pacifica's median rent of $3,584 exceeds that threshold by $2,415/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 159.5 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 Pacifica, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Redwood City, CA
$3,583/mo (92% of income)
Santa Clara, CA
$3,582/mo (92% of income)
Windsor, CA
$3,581/mo (91.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pacifica

View full rent data for Pacifica, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Pacifica, CA?

Median rent in Pacifica is $3,584 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 92% 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 Pacifica?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Pacifica's current median rent is $3,584/mo, which is $2,415/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 159.5 hours a month to cover Pacifica's median rent of $3,584.

Where is rent cheaper than Pacifica for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Redwood City ($3,583/mo), Santa Clara ($3,582/mo), Windsor ($3,581/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 Pacifica, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.