Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Ann Arbor, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.1% of gross income.

Ann Arbor rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Ann Arbor median rent
$2,159/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
68.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Ann Arbor's median rent of $2,159 exceeds that threshold by $1,208/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 118.1 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Ann Arbor, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Royal Oak, MI
$2,150/mo (67.8% of income)
Macomb, MI
$2,148/mo (67.8% of income)
Birmingham, MI
$2,143/mo (67.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ann Arbor

View full rent data for Ann Arbor, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Ann Arbor, MI?

Median rent in Ann Arbor is $2,159 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 68.1% 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 Ann Arbor?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Ann Arbor's current median rent is $2,159/mo, which is $1,208/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 118.1 hours a month to cover Ann Arbor's median rent of $2,159.

Where is rent cheaper than Ann Arbor for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Royal Oak ($2,150/mo), Macomb ($2,148/mo), Birmingham ($2,143/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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