Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.
Charleston rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Charleston
View full rent data for Charleston, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Charleston, IL?
Median rent in Charleston is $762 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Charleston?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $762/mo, which leaves a $248/mo buffer.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Charleston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $762.
Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($731/mo), Belleville ($729/mo), Carbondale ($673/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.