Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Topanga, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 131.6% of gross income.

Topanga rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Topanga median rent
$5,125/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
131.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Topanga's median rent of $5,125 exceeds that threshold by $3,956/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 228.1 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 Topanga, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Laguna Beach, CA
$5,109/mo (131.2% of income)
Laguna Beach, CA
$5,105/mo (131.1% of income)
Laguna Beach, CA
$5,100/mo (130.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Topanga

View full rent data for Topanga, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Topanga, CA?

Median rent in Topanga is $5,125 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 131.6% 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 Topanga?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Topanga's current median rent is $5,125/mo, which is $3,956/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 228.1 hours a month to cover Topanga's median rent of $5,125.

Where is rent cheaper than Topanga for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Laguna Beach ($5,109/mo), Laguna Beach ($5,105/mo), Laguna Beach ($5,100/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 Topanga, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.