Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Asheville, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.4% of gross income.

Asheville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Asheville median rent
$1,688/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
54.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Asheville's median rent of $1,688 exceeds that threshold by $757/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 94.3 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Asheville, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Holly Ridge, NC
$1,687/mo (54.4% of income)
Boone, NC
$1,687/mo (54.4% of income)
Mooresville, NC
$1,687/mo (54.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Asheville

View full rent data for Asheville, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Asheville, NC?

Median rent in Asheville is $1,688 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 54.4% 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 Asheville?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Asheville's current median rent is $1,688/mo, which is $757/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 94.3 hours a month to cover Asheville's median rent of $1,688.

Where is rent cheaper than Asheville for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Holly Ridge ($1,687/mo), Boone ($1,687/mo), Mooresville ($1,687/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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