Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.6% of gross income.

Austin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Austin median rent
$947/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
27.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $947 leaves roughly $83/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 47.8 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Albert Lea, MN
$923/mo (26.9% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (26.4% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (25.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Austin, MN?

Median rent in Austin is $947 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 27.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $947/mo, which leaves a $83/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 47.8 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $947.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Albert Lea ($923/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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