Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Livingston, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.1% of gross income.

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

Livingston median rent
$1,339/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Montana)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
46.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Livingston's median rent of $1,339 exceeds that threshold by $468/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 79.9 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 Livingston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Billings, MT
$1,334/mo (45.9% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,333/mo (45.9% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,332/mo (45.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Livingston

View full rent data for Livingston, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Livingston, MT?

Median rent in Livingston is $1,339 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Montana earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 46.1% 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 Livingston?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Montana (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Livingston's current median rent is $1,339/mo, which is $468/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Montana works roughly 79.9 hours a month to cover Livingston's median rent of $1,339.

Where is rent cheaper than Livingston for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,334/mo), Great Falls ($1,333/mo), Great Falls ($1,332/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 Livingston, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.