Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Laurel, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Laurel rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Laurel median rent
$1,240/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Montana)
$53,495/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,458, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Laurel's median rent of $1,240 leaves roughly $97/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Laurel, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Butte, MT
$1,218/mo (27.3% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,209/mo (27.1% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,196/mo (26.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laurel

View full rent data for Laurel, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Laurel, MT?

Median rent in Laurel is $1,240 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Montana earns about $53,495 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Laurel?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Montana (~$53,495/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Laurel's current median rent is $1,240/mo, which leaves a $97/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Laurel?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Montana works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Laurel's median rent of $1,240.

Where is rent cheaper than Laurel for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,218/mo), Butte ($1,209/mo), Butte ($1,196/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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