Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Matthews, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.7% of gross income.

Matthews rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Matthews median rent
$1,756/mo
Registered Nurse salary (North Carolina)
$88,811/yr
Rent as % of income
23.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,401, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,220/mo in rent. Matthews's median rent of $1,756 leaves roughly $464/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 41.1 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Matthews, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Sneads Ferry, NC
$1,755/mo (23.7% of income)
Whitsett, NC
$1,755/mo (23.7% of income)
Garner, NC
$1,755/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Matthews

View full rent data for Matthews, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Matthews, NC?

Median rent in Matthews is $1,756 a month. A typical registered nurse in North Carolina earns about $88,811 a year, which makes that rent 23.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Matthews?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in North Carolina (~$88,811/yr) supports up to $2,220 a month in rent. Matthews's current median rent is $1,756/mo, which leaves a $464/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a registered nurse in North Carolina works roughly 41.1 hours a month to cover Matthews's median rent of $1,756.

Where is rent cheaper than Matthews for a registered nurse?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Sneads Ferry ($1,755/mo), Whitsett ($1,755/mo), Garner ($1,755/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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