Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Monroe, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.5% of gross income.

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

Monroe median rent
$1,622/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Louisiana)
$34,461/yr
Rent as % of income
56.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,872, and the 30% rule supports up to $862/mo in rent. Monroe's median rent of $1,622 exceeds that threshold by $760/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 97.9 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 Monroe, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Zachary, LA
$1,620/mo (56.4% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,619/mo (56.4% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,617/mo (56.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monroe

View full rent data for Monroe, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Monroe, LA?

Median rent in Monroe is $1,622 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Louisiana earns about $34,461 a year, which makes that rent 56.5% 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 Monroe?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Louisiana (~$34,461/yr) supports up to $862 a month in rent. Monroe's current median rent is $1,622/mo, which is $760/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Louisiana works roughly 97.9 hours a month to cover Monroe's median rent of $1,622.

Where is rent cheaper than Monroe for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Zachary ($1,620/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,619/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,617/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 Monroe, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.