Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.9% of gross income.

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

Saint Cloud median rent
$1,232/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
35.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232 exceeds that threshold by $202/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62.2 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 Saint Cloud, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,226/mo (35.7% of income)
Mankato, MN
$1,217/mo (35.5% of income)
Waite Park, MN
$1,209/mo (35.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Cloud

View full rent data for Saint Cloud, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Median rent in Saint Cloud is $1,232 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 35.9% 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 Saint Cloud?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Saint Cloud's current median rent is $1,232/mo, which is $202/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 62.2 hours a month to cover Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Cloud for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,226/mo), Mankato ($1,217/mo), Waite Park ($1,209/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 Saint Cloud, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.