Rent Affordability for Registered Nurses in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest registered nurse pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $118,100/yr | $2,953/mo | View cities › |
| California | $111,486/yr | $2,787/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $109,597/yr | $2,740/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $107,707/yr | $2,693/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $105,818/yr | $2,645/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $105,818/yr | $2,645/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $105,818/yr | $2,645/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $103,928/yr | $2,598/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $102,038/yr | $2,551/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $102,038/yr | $2,551/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest registered nurse pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $76,529/yr | $1,913/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $78,418/yr | $1,960/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $80,308/yr | $2,008/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $81,253/yr | $2,031/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $82,198/yr | $2,055/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $83,142/yr | $2,079/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $83,142/yr | $2,079/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $83,142/yr | $2,079/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $83,142/yr | $2,079/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $83,142/yr | $2,079/mo | View cities › |
All states
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can a registered nurse afford?
Using the 30% rule (rent should be no more than 30% of gross income), a registered nurse earning the national average of $94,480 can afford about $2,362 a month in rent. Local affordability depends on actual nurse pay in that metro and on local rent levels.
Where is rent most affordable for nurses?
Rent is most affordable for nurses in mid-cost Midwest and Southern metros where nurse pay is at or above the national mean but rent is well below it. The per-city pages here rank cities by rent-to-income ratio for an RN salary.
Is renting in California or New York realistic on a nurse salary?
In most California and New York metros, nurse pay is materially higher than the national mean, but rent is higher still. A nurse salary in San Francisco or Manhattan typically falls into the rent-burdened range (over 30% of gross income) without roommates or a second household earner.