Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Ruidoso, NM?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.2% of gross income.
Ruidoso rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).
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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Ruidoso, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ruidoso
View full rent data for Ruidoso, NM →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Ruidoso, NM?
Median rent in Ruidoso is $1,700 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Mexico earns about $35,649 a year, which makes that rent 57.2% 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 Ruidoso?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Mexico (~$35,649/yr) supports up to $891 a month in rent. Ruidoso's current median rent is $1,700/mo, which is $809/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Ruidoso?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Mexico works roughly 99.2 hours a month to cover Ruidoso's median rent of $1,700.
Where is rent cheaper than Ruidoso for a nursing assistant?
Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Carlsbad ($1,698/mo), Los Lunas ($1,693/mo), Carlsbad ($1,676/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.