Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Austin, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.2% of gross income.
Austin rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Austin
View full rent data for Austin, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Austin, AR?
Median rent in Austin is $1,123 a month. A typical registered nurse in Arkansas earns about $78,418 a year, which makes that rent 17.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Austin?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Arkansas (~$78,418/yr) supports up to $1,960 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,123/mo, which leaves a $837/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Austin?
At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a registered nurse in Arkansas works roughly 29.8 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,123.
Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a registered nurse?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,122/mo), Jonesboro ($1,117/mo), Hot Springs ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.