Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Key West, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 107.9% of gross income.

Key West rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Key West median rent
$3,312/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Florida)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
107.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Key West's median rent of $3,312 exceeds that threshold by $2,391/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 187 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bay Harbor Islands, FL
$3,303/mo (107.6% of income)
Islamorada, FL
$3,297/mo (107.4% of income)
Redington Shores, FL
$3,288/mo (107.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Key West

View full rent data for Key West, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Key West, FL?

Median rent in Key West is $3,312 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Florida earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 107.9% 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 Key West?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Florida (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,312/mo, which is $2,391/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Florida works roughly 187 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,312.

Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Bay Harbor Islands ($3,303/mo), Islamorada ($3,297/mo), Redington Shores ($3,288/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Florida state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Key West, FL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.