Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.6% of gross income.

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

Van Buren median rent
$1,019/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Arkansas)
$78,418/yr
Rent as % of income
15.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,535, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,960/mo in rent. Van Buren's median rent of $1,019 leaves roughly $941/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 27 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 Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (15.6% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (15.6% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (15.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Van Buren

View full rent data for Van Buren, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Van Buren, AR?

Median rent in Van Buren is $1,019 a month. A typical registered nurse in Arkansas earns about $78,418 a year, which makes that rent 15.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Van Buren?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Arkansas (~$78,418/yr) supports up to $1,960 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which leaves a $941/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a registered nurse in Arkansas works roughly 27 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a registered nurse?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/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 Van Buren, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.