Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Vail, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44% of gross income.

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

Vail median rent
$3,635/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Colorado)
$99,204/yr
Rent as % of income
44%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,267, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,480/mo in rent. Vail's median rent of $3,635 exceeds that threshold by $1,155/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 76.2 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 Vail, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Silverthorne, CO
$3,612/mo (43.7% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,607/mo (43.6% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,595/mo (43.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Vail

View full rent data for Vail, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Vail, CO?

Median rent in Vail is $3,635 a month. A typical registered nurse in Colorado earns about $99,204 a year, which makes that rent 44% 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 Vail?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Colorado (~$99,204/yr) supports up to $2,480 a month in rent. Vail's current median rent is $3,635/mo, which is $1,155/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $48 an hour, a registered nurse in Colorado works roughly 76.2 hours a month to cover Vail's median rent of $3,635.

Where is rent cheaper than Vail for a registered nurse?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Silverthorne ($3,612/mo), Silverthorne ($3,607/mo), Silverthorne ($3,595/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 Vail, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.