Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Benton, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.5% of gross income.

Benton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Benton median rent
$1,469/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Arkansas)
$78,418/yr
Rent as % of income
22.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,535, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,960/mo in rent. Benton's median rent of $1,469 leaves roughly $491/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 39 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Benton, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Prairie Grove, AR
$1,466/mo (22.4% of income)
Sherwood, AR
$1,466/mo (22.4% of income)
Cabot, AR
$1,465/mo (22.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Benton

View full rent data for Benton, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Benton, AR?

Median rent in Benton is $1,469 a month. A typical registered nurse in Arkansas earns about $78,418 a year, which makes that rent 22.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Benton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Arkansas (~$78,418/yr) supports up to $1,960 a month in rent. Benton's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which leaves a $491/mo buffer.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Benton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a registered nurse in Arkansas works roughly 39 hours a month to cover Benton's median rent of $1,469.

Where is rent cheaper than Benton for a registered nurse?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Prairie Grove ($1,466/mo), Sherwood ($1,466/mo), Cabot ($1,465/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Arkansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Benton, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.