Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Duluth, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.

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

Duluth median rent
$1,458/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
42.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Duluth's median rent of $1,458 exceeds that threshold by $428/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 73.6 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 Duluth, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,457/mo (42.4% of income)
Little Canada, MN
$1,454/mo (42.4% of income)
South Saint Paul, MN
$1,453/mo (42.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Duluth

View full rent data for Duluth, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Duluth, MN?

Median rent in Duluth is $1,458 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 Duluth?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Duluth's current median rent is $1,458/mo, which is $428/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 73.6 hours a month to cover Duluth's median rent of $1,458.

Where is rent cheaper than Duluth for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,457/mo), Little Canada ($1,454/mo), South Saint Paul ($1,453/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 Duluth, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.