Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in West Monroe, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.2% of gross income.

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

West Monroe median rent
$1,154/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Louisiana)
$34,461/yr
Rent as % of income
40.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,872, and the 30% rule supports up to $862/mo in rent. West Monroe's median rent of $1,154 exceeds that threshold by $292/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 69.7 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 West Monroe, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Ruston, LA
$1,153/mo (40.1% of income)
Sulphur, LA
$1,153/mo (40.1% of income)
Lake Charles, LA
$1,152/mo (40.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Monroe

View full rent data for West Monroe, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in West Monroe, LA?

Median rent in West Monroe is $1,154 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Louisiana earns about $34,461 a year, which makes that rent 40.2% 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 West Monroe?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Louisiana (~$34,461/yr) supports up to $862 a month in rent. West Monroe's current median rent is $1,154/mo, which is $292/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Louisiana works roughly 69.7 hours a month to cover West Monroe's median rent of $1,154.

Where is rent cheaper than West Monroe for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Ruston ($1,153/mo), Sulphur ($1,153/mo), Lake Charles ($1,152/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 West Monroe, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.