Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Rockville, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

Rockville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Rockville median rent
$2,426/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Maryland)
$102,038/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,503, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,551/mo in rent. Rockville's median rent of $2,426 leaves roughly $125/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 49.5 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Rockville, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

California, MD
$2,421/mo (28.5% of income)
Bowie, MD
$2,421/mo (28.5% of income)
Odenton, MD
$2,420/mo (28.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rockville

View full rent data for Rockville, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Rockville, MD?

Median rent in Rockville is $2,426 a month. A typical registered nurse in Maryland earns about $102,038 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Rockville?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Maryland (~$102,038/yr) supports up to $2,551 a month in rent. Rockville's current median rent is $2,426/mo, which leaves a $125/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a registered nurse in Maryland works roughly 49.5 hours a month to cover Rockville's median rent of $2,426.

Where is rent cheaper than Rockville for a registered nurse?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include California ($2,421/mo), Bowie ($2,421/mo), Odenton ($2,420/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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