Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Elk River, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

Elk River rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Elk River median rent
$2,129/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Minnesota)
$98,259/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,188, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,456/mo in rent. Elk River's median rent of $2,129 leaves roughly $327/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 45.1 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Elk River, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Maple Grove, MN
$2,119/mo (25.9% of income)
Blaine, MN
$2,112/mo (25.8% of income)
Maple Grove, MN
$2,111/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elk River

View full rent data for Elk River, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Elk River, MN?

Median rent in Elk River is $2,129 a month. A typical registered nurse in Minnesota earns about $98,259 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Elk River?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Minnesota (~$98,259/yr) supports up to $2,456 a month in rent. Elk River's current median rent is $2,129/mo, which leaves a $327/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in Minnesota works roughly 45.1 hours a month to cover Elk River's median rent of $2,129.

Where is rent cheaper than Elk River for a registered nurse?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maple Grove ($2,119/mo), Blaine ($2,112/mo), Maple Grove ($2,111/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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