Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Boston, MA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 38% of gross income.
Boston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Boston, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Boston
View full rent data for Boston, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Boston, MA?
Median rent in Boston is $3,469 a month. A typical registered nurse in Massachusetts earns about $109,597 a year, which makes that rent 38% 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 Boston?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Massachusetts (~$109,597/yr) supports up to $2,740 a month in rent. Boston's current median rent is $3,469/mo, which is $729/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Boston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $53 an hour, a registered nurse in Massachusetts works roughly 65.8 hours a month to cover Boston's median rent of $3,469.
Where is rent cheaper than Boston for a registered nurse?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Winchester ($3,462/mo), Cambridge ($3,456/mo), Hingham ($3,454/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.