Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Butte, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.2% of gross income.

Butte rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Butte median rent
$1,314/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Montana)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
45.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Butte's median rent of $1,314 exceeds that threshold by $443/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 78.4 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Butte, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Great Falls, MT
$1,312/mo (45.2% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,308/mo (45% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,293/mo (44.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Butte

View full rent data for Butte, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Butte, MT?

Median rent in Butte is $1,314 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Montana earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 45.2% 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 Butte?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Montana (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Butte's current median rent is $1,314/mo, which is $443/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Montana works roughly 78.4 hours a month to cover Butte's median rent of $1,314.

Where is rent cheaper than Butte for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Great Falls ($1,312/mo), Great Falls ($1,308/mo), Great Falls ($1,293/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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