Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 128.9% of gross income.

South Padre Island rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

South Padre Island median rent
$4,212/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
128.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212 exceeds that threshold by $3,232/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 223.4 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

University Park, TX
$4,163/mo (127.4% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,358/mo (102.8% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,274/mo (100.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island

View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 128.9% 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 South Padre Island?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $3,232/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in South Padre Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 223.4 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.

Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/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 South Padre Island, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.