Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Columbia, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

Columbia rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Columbia median rent
$1,291/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Pennsylvania)
$60,182/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,015, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,505/mo in rent. Columbia's median rent of $1,291 leaves roughly $214/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 44.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Columbia, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Irwin, PA
$1,290/mo (25.7% of income)
Carnegie, PA
$1,289/mo (25.7% of income)
Bridgeville, PA
$1,289/mo (25.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Columbia

View full rent data for Columbia, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Columbia, PA?

Median rent in Columbia is $1,291 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Pennsylvania earns about $60,182 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Pennsylvania (~$60,182/yr) supports up to $1,505 a month in rent. Columbia's current median rent is $1,291/mo, which leaves a $214/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Pennsylvania works roughly 44.6 hours a month to cover Columbia's median rent of $1,291.

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

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Irwin ($1,290/mo), Carnegie ($1,289/mo), Bridgeville ($1,289/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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