Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

Cape Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Cape Elizabeth median rent
$2,908/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Maine)
$87,866/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,322, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,197/mo in rent. Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908 exceeds that threshold by $711/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 68.8 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Cape Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Scarborough, ME
$2,870/mo (39.2% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,844/mo (38.8% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,843/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cape Elizabeth

View full rent data for Cape Elizabeth, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Median rent in Cape Elizabeth is $2,908 a month. A typical registered nurse in Maine earns about $87,866 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Cape Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Maine (~$87,866/yr) supports up to $2,197 a month in rent. Cape Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,908/mo, which is $711/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Maine works roughly 68.8 hours a month to cover Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908.

Where is rent cheaper than Cape Elizabeth for a registered nurse?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Scarborough ($2,870/mo), Scarborough ($2,844/mo), Scarborough ($2,843/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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