Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Key West, FL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.7% of gross income.
Key West rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).
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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Key West
View full rent data for Key West, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Key West, FL?
Median rent in Key West is $3,563 a month. A typical registered nurse in Florida earns about $87,866 a year, which makes that rent 48.7% 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 Key West?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Florida (~$87,866/yr) supports up to $2,197 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,563/mo, which is $1,366/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Key West?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Florida works roughly 84.3 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,563.
Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a registered nurse?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Marco Island ($3,561/mo), Key Largo ($3,560/mo), Key Largo ($3,559/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.