Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.

Memphis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Memphis median rent
$1,280/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
27.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Memphis's median rent of $1,280 leaves roughly $118/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 47.6 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Memphis, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (27.4% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,274/mo (27.3% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,274/mo (27.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Memphis

View full rent data for Memphis, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Memphis, TN?

Median rent in Memphis is $1,280 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Tennessee (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,280/mo, which leaves a $118/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee works roughly 47.6 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,280.

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

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Gallatin ($1,279/mo), Smyrna ($1,274/mo), Jonesborough ($1,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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