Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Santa Rosa, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.1% of gross income.

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

Santa Rosa median rent
$2,534/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
65.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Santa Rosa's median rent of $2,534 exceeds that threshold by $1,365/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 112.8 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 Santa Rosa, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Indio, CA
$2,533/mo (65% of income)
Jurupa Valley, CA
$2,533/mo (65% of income)
Union City, CA
$2,533/mo (65% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Santa Rosa

View full rent data for Santa Rosa, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Santa Rosa, CA?

Median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,534 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 65.1% 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 Santa Rosa?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Santa Rosa's current median rent is $2,534/mo, which is $1,365/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 112.8 hours a month to cover Santa Rosa's median rent of $2,534.

Where is rent cheaper than Santa Rosa for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Indio ($2,533/mo), Jurupa Valley ($2,533/mo), Union City ($2,533/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 Santa Rosa, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.