Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.
Tuscaloosa rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
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.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Tuscaloosa, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Tuscaloosa
View full rent data for Tuscaloosa, AL →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Median rent in Tuscaloosa is $1,701 a month. A typical registered nurse in Alabama earns about $81,253 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Tuscaloosa?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Alabama (~$81,253/yr) supports up to $2,031 a month in rent. Tuscaloosa's current median rent is $1,701/mo, which leaves a $330/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Tuscaloosa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a registered nurse in Alabama works roughly 43.5 hours a month to cover Tuscaloosa's median rent of $1,701.
Where is rent cheaper than Tuscaloosa for a registered nurse?
Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Prattville ($1,700/mo), Harvest ($1,699/mo), Trussville ($1,699/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.