Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Portales, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.9% of gross income.

Portales rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Portales median rent
$862/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (New Mexico)
$54,711/yr
Rent as % of income
18.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,559, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,368/mo in rent. Portales's median rent of $862 leaves roughly $506/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 32.8 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.

Compare with full rent data for Portales

View full rent data for Portales, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Portales, NM?

Median rent in Portales is $862 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in New Mexico earns about $54,711 a year, which makes that rent 18.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in New Mexico (~$54,711/yr) supports up to $1,368 a month in rent. Portales's current median rent is $862/mo, which leaves a $506/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in New Mexico works roughly 32.8 hours a month to cover Portales's median rent of $862.

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