Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Harlingen, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

Harlingen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Harlingen median rent
$1,135/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Harlingen's median rent of $1,135 exceeds that threshold by $155/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.2 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 Harlingen, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Orange, TX
$1,133/mo (34.7% of income)
Pasadena, TX
$1,133/mo (34.7% of income)
Longview, TX
$1,132/mo (34.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Harlingen

View full rent data for Harlingen, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Harlingen, TX?

Median rent in Harlingen is $1,135 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% 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 Harlingen?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Harlingen's current median rent is $1,135/mo, which is $155/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 60.2 hours a month to cover Harlingen's median rent of $1,135.

Where is rent cheaper than Harlingen for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Orange ($1,133/mo), Pasadena ($1,133/mo), Longview ($1,132/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 Harlingen, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.