Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Golden, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Golden rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Golden median rent
$2,295/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Colorado)
$99,204/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,267, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,480/mo in rent. Golden's median rent of $2,295 leaves roughly $185/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 48.1 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Golden, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Security-Widefield, CO
$2,287/mo (27.7% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,285/mo (27.6% of income)
Lafayette, CO
$2,283/mo (27.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Golden

View full rent data for Golden, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Golden, CO?

Median rent in Golden is $2,295 a month. A typical registered nurse in Colorado earns about $99,204 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Golden?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Colorado (~$99,204/yr) supports up to $2,480 a month in rent. Golden's current median rent is $2,295/mo, which leaves a $185/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $48 an hour, a registered nurse in Colorado works roughly 48.1 hours a month to cover Golden's median rent of $2,295.

Where is rent cheaper than Golden for a registered nurse?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Security-Widefield ($2,287/mo), Louisville ($2,285/mo), Lafayette ($2,283/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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