Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Rifle, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.

Rifle rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Rifle median rent
$2,575/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Colorado)
$99,204/yr
Rent as % of income
31.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,267, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,480/mo in rent. Rifle's median rent of $2,575 exceeds that threshold by $95/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 54 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 Rifle, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Glenwood Springs, CO
$2,573/mo (31.1% of income)
Evergreen, CO
$2,573/mo (31.1% of income)
Glenwood Springs, CO
$2,572/mo (31.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rifle

View full rent data for Rifle, CO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Rifle, CO?

Median rent in Rifle is $2,575 a month. A typical registered nurse in Colorado earns about $99,204 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% 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 Rifle?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Colorado (~$99,204/yr) supports up to $2,480 a month in rent. Rifle's current median rent is $2,575/mo, which is $95/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $48 an hour, a registered nurse in Colorado works roughly 54 hours a month to cover Rifle's median rent of $2,575.

Where is rent cheaper than Rifle for a registered nurse?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Glenwood Springs ($2,573/mo), Evergreen ($2,573/mo), Glenwood Springs ($2,572/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 Rifle, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.