Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Elgin, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.1% of gross income.

Elgin rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Elgin median rent
$1,834/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (South Carolina)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
63.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Elgin's median rent of $1,834 exceeds that threshold by $963/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 109.4 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Elgin, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Irmo, SC
$1,833/mo (63.1% of income)
Goose Creek, SC
$1,833/mo (63.1% of income)
Simpsonville, SC
$1,832/mo (63.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elgin

View full rent data for Elgin, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Elgin, SC?

Median rent in Elgin is $1,834 a month. A typical nursing assistant in South Carolina earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 63.1% 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 Elgin?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in South Carolina (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Elgin's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which is $963/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in South Carolina works roughly 109.4 hours a month to cover Elgin's median rent of $1,834.

Where is rent cheaper than Elgin for a nursing assistant?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Irmo ($1,833/mo), Goose Creek ($1,833/mo), Simpsonville ($1,832/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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