Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kansas City, KS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.4% of gross income.

Kansas City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Kansas City median rent
$1,319/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Kansas)
$35,649/yr
Rent as % of income
44.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,971, and the 30% rule supports up to $891/mo in rent. Kansas City's median rent of $1,319 exceeds that threshold by $428/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 77 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Kansas City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Shawnee, KS
$1,310/mo (44.1% of income)
Leavenworth, KS
$1,305/mo (43.9% of income)
Manhattan, KS
$1,293/mo (43.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kansas City

View full rent data for Kansas City, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kansas City, KS?

Median rent in Kansas City is $1,319 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Kansas earns about $35,649 a year, which makes that rent 44.4% 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 Kansas City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Kansas (~$35,649/yr) supports up to $891 a month in rent. Kansas City's current median rent is $1,319/mo, which is $428/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Kansas works roughly 77 hours a month to cover Kansas City's median rent of $1,319.

Where is rent cheaper than Kansas City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Shawnee ($1,310/mo), Leavenworth ($1,305/mo), Manhattan ($1,293/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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