Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in El Paso, TX?

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

El Paso rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

El Paso median rent
$1,508/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
46.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. El Paso's median rent of $1,508 exceeds that threshold by $528/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 80 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than El Paso, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Duncanville, TX
$1,507/mo (46.1% of income)
Woodway, TX
$1,507/mo (46.1% of income)
Waller, TX
$1,507/mo (46.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for El Paso

View full rent data for El Paso, TX →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in El Paso, TX?

Median rent in El Paso is $1,508 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 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 El Paso?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. El Paso's current median rent is $1,508/mo, which is $528/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 80 hours a month to cover El Paso's median rent of $1,508.

Where is rent cheaper than El Paso for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Duncanville ($1,507/mo), Woodway ($1,507/mo), Waller ($1,507/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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