Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in San Bernardino, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.2% of gross income.

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

San Bernardino median rent
$1,994/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
51.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. San Bernardino's median rent of $1,994 exceeds that threshold by $825/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 88.7 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 San Bernardino, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

San Gabriel, CA
$1,993/mo (51.2% of income)
Orangevale, CA
$1,993/mo (51.2% of income)
Lodi, CA
$1,993/mo (51.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Bernardino

View full rent data for San Bernardino, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in San Bernardino, CA?

Median rent in San Bernardino is $1,994 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 51.2% 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 San Bernardino?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. San Bernardino's current median rent is $1,994/mo, which is $825/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 88.7 hours a month to cover San Bernardino's median rent of $1,994.

Where is rent cheaper than San Bernardino for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Gabriel ($1,993/mo), Orangevale ($1,993/mo), Lodi ($1,993/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 San Bernardino, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.