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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.1% of gross income.

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

Memphis median rent
$1,262/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
27.1%
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 $1,262 leaves roughly $136/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 46.9 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:

Red Bank, TN
$1,261/mo (27.1% of income)
Red Bank, TN
$1,259/mo (27% of income)
Red Bank, TN
$1,257/mo (27% 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 $1,262 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 27.1% 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 $1,262/mo, which leaves a $136/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 46.9 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,262.

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

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Red Bank ($1,261/mo), Red Bank ($1,259/mo), Red Bank ($1,257/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.