Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Arcadia, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.

Arcadia rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Arcadia median rent
$3,412/mo
Registered Nurse salary (California)
$111,486/yr
Rent as % of income
36.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,291, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,787/mo in rent. Arcadia's median rent of $3,412 exceeds that threshold by $625/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 63.7 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 California cities have lower median rent than Arcadia, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

San Clemente, CA
$3,411/mo (36.7% of income)
Culver City, CA
$3,411/mo (36.7% of income)
Watsonville, CA
$3,410/mo (36.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arcadia

View full rent data for Arcadia, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Arcadia, CA?

Median rent in Arcadia is $3,412 a month. A typical registered nurse in California earns about $111,486 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Arcadia?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in California (~$111,486/yr) supports up to $2,787 a month in rent. Arcadia's current median rent is $3,412/mo, which is $625/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $54 an hour, a registered nurse in California works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover Arcadia's median rent of $3,412.

Where is rent cheaper than Arcadia for a registered nurse?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Clemente ($3,411/mo), Culver City ($3,411/mo), Watsonville ($3,410/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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