Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Ruston, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.1% of gross income.

Ruston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Ruston median rent
$1,442/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Louisiana)
$82,198/yr
Rent as % of income
21.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,850, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,055/mo in rent. Ruston's median rent of $1,442 leaves roughly $613/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 36.5 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Ruston, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Slidell, LA
$1,441/mo (21% of income)
Denham Springs, LA
$1,440/mo (21% of income)
Slidell, LA
$1,438/mo (21% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ruston

View full rent data for Ruston, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Ruston, LA?

Median rent in Ruston is $1,442 a month. A typical registered nurse in Louisiana earns about $82,198 a year, which makes that rent 21.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Ruston?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Louisiana (~$82,198/yr) supports up to $2,055 a month in rent. Ruston's current median rent is $1,442/mo, which leaves a $613/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a registered nurse in Louisiana works roughly 36.5 hours a month to cover Ruston's median rent of $1,442.

Where is rent cheaper than Ruston for a registered nurse?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Slidell ($1,441/mo), Denham Springs ($1,440/mo), Slidell ($1,438/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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