Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Louisville, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.9% of gross income.

Louisville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Louisville median rent
$1,362/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Kentucky)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
46.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Louisville's median rent of $1,362 exceeds that threshold by $491/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 81.3 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Louisville, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Fort Thomas, KY
$1,358/mo (46.8% of income)
Nicholasville, KY
$1,358/mo (46.8% of income)
Fort Thomas, KY
$1,354/mo (46.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Louisville

View full rent data for Louisville, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Louisville, KY?

Median rent in Louisville is $1,362 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Kentucky earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 46.9% 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 Louisville?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Kentucky (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Louisville's current median rent is $1,362/mo, which is $491/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Kentucky works roughly 81.3 hours a month to cover Louisville's median rent of $1,362.

Where is rent cheaper than Louisville for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Fort Thomas ($1,358/mo), Nicholasville ($1,358/mo), Fort Thomas ($1,354/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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