Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in South Saint Paul, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.7% of gross income.

South Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

South Saint Paul median rent
$1,453/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Minnesota)
$98,259/yr
Rent as % of income
17.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,188, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,456/mo in rent. South Saint Paul's median rent of $1,453 leaves roughly $1,003/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 30.8 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than South Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Saint Paul, MN
$1,451/mo (17.7% of income)
Saint Paul, MN
$1,450/mo (17.7% of income)
Roseville, MN
$1,450/mo (17.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Saint Paul

View full rent data for South Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in South Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in South Saint Paul is $1,453 a month. A typical registered nurse in Minnesota earns about $98,259 a year, which makes that rent 17.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in South Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Minnesota (~$98,259/yr) supports up to $2,456 a month in rent. South Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,453/mo, which leaves a $1,003/mo buffer.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in South Saint Paul?

At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in Minnesota works roughly 30.8 hours a month to cover South Saint Paul's median rent of $1,453.

Where is rent cheaper than South Saint Paul for a registered nurse?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Saint Paul ($1,451/mo), Saint Paul ($1,450/mo), Roseville ($1,450/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 South Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.