Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Jefferson City, MO?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.9% of gross income.
Jefferson City rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City
View full rent data for Jefferson City, MO →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Jefferson City, MO?
Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,005 a month. A typical registered nurse in Missouri earns about $86,922 a year, which makes that rent 13.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Jefferson City?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Missouri (~$86,922/yr) supports up to $2,173 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,005/mo, which leaves a $1,168/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Jefferson City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Missouri works roughly 24 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,005.
Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a registered nurse?
Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Warrensburg ($1,004/mo), Bolivar ($1,002/mo), University City ($1,000/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.