Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Santa Teresa, NM?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35% of gross income.

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

Santa Teresa median rent
$1,598/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (New Mexico)
$54,711/yr
Rent as % of income
35%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,559, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,368/mo in rent. Santa Teresa's median rent of $1,598 exceeds that threshold by $230/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 60.8 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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Santa Teresa, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Carlsbad, NM
$1,578/mo (34.6% of income)
Carlsbad, NM
$1,568/mo (34.4% of income)
Carlsbad, NM
$1,556/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Santa Teresa

View full rent data for Santa Teresa, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Santa Teresa, NM?

Median rent in Santa Teresa is $1,598 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in New Mexico earns about $54,711 a year, which makes that rent 35% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Santa Teresa?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in New Mexico (~$54,711/yr) supports up to $1,368 a month in rent. Santa Teresa's current median rent is $1,598/mo, which is $230/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in New Mexico works roughly 60.8 hours a month to cover Santa Teresa's median rent of $1,598.

Where is rent cheaper than Santa Teresa for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Carlsbad ($1,578/mo), Carlsbad ($1,568/mo), Carlsbad ($1,556/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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