Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Oklahoma City, OK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.7% of gross income.

Oklahoma City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Oklahoma City median rent
$1,298/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oklahoma)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
44.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Oklahoma City's median rent of $1,298 exceeds that threshold by $427/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 77.5 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Oklahoma City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Stillwater, OK
$1,293/mo (44.5% of income)
Stillwater, OK
$1,290/mo (44.4% of income)
Norman, OK
$1,289/mo (44.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oklahoma City

View full rent data for Oklahoma City, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Oklahoma City, OK?

Median rent in Oklahoma City is $1,298 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oklahoma earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 44.7% 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 Oklahoma City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oklahoma (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Oklahoma City's current median rent is $1,298/mo, which is $427/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oklahoma works roughly 77.5 hours a month to cover Oklahoma City's median rent of $1,298.

Where is rent cheaper than Oklahoma City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Stillwater ($1,293/mo), Stillwater ($1,290/mo), Norman ($1,289/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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