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

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.

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

Nashville median rent
$1,834/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
39.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Nashville's median rent of $1,834 exceeds that threshold by $436/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 68.2 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 Nashville, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

White House, TN
$1,832/mo (39.3% of income)
Maryville, TN
$1,830/mo (39.3% of income)
Lakeland, TN
$1,830/mo (39.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Nashville

View full rent data for Nashville, TN

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Nashville is $1,834 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% 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 Nashville?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Tennessee (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Nashville's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which is $436/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee works roughly 68.2 hours a month to cover Nashville's median rent of $1,834.

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

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include White House ($1,832/mo), Maryville ($1,830/mo), Lakeland ($1,830/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 Nashville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.