Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Alexandria, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.3% of gross income.

Alexandria rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Alexandria median rent
$1,157/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Louisiana)
$34,461/yr
Rent as % of income
40.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,872, and the 30% rule supports up to $862/mo in rent. Alexandria's median rent of $1,157 exceeds that threshold by $295/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 69.8 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Alexandria, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

West Monroe, LA
$1,154/mo (40.2% of income)
West Monroe, LA
$1,154/mo (40.2% of income)
Ruston, LA
$1,153/mo (40.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alexandria

View full rent data for Alexandria, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Alexandria, LA?

Median rent in Alexandria is $1,157 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Louisiana earns about $34,461 a year, which makes that rent 40.3% 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 Alexandria?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Louisiana (~$34,461/yr) supports up to $862 a month in rent. Alexandria's current median rent is $1,157/mo, which is $295/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Louisiana works roughly 69.8 hours a month to cover Alexandria's median rent of $1,157.

Where is rent cheaper than Alexandria for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include West Monroe ($1,154/mo), West Monroe ($1,154/mo), Ruston ($1,153/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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