Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Columbus, GA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.7% of gross income.

Columbus rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia state estimate).

Columbus median rent
$1,275/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Georgia)
$37,630/yr
Rent as % of income
40.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,136, and the 30% rule supports up to $941/mo in rent. Columbus's median rent of $1,275 exceeds that threshold by $334/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 70.5 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than Columbus, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Decatur, GA
$1,274/mo (40.6% of income)
Lagrange, GA
$1,273/mo (40.6% of income)
Forest Park, GA
$1,273/mo (40.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Columbus

View full rent data for Columbus, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Columbus, GA?

Median rent in Columbus is $1,275 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Georgia earns about $37,630 a year, which makes that rent 40.7% 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 Columbus?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Georgia (~$37,630/yr) supports up to $941 a month in rent. Columbus's current median rent is $1,275/mo, which is $334/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Georgia works roughly 70.5 hours a month to cover Columbus's median rent of $1,275.

Where is rent cheaper than Columbus for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Decatur ($1,274/mo), Lagrange ($1,273/mo), Forest Park ($1,273/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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