Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.3% of gross income.

Grand Forks rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Grand Forks median rent
$1,172/mo
Registered Nurse salary (North Dakota)
$91,646/yr
Rent as % of income
15.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,637, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,291/mo in rent. Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172 leaves roughly $1,119/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 26.6 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Grand Forks, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Mandan, ND
$1,143/mo (15% of income)
Jamestown, ND
$1,143/mo (15% of income)
Minot, ND
$1,143/mo (15% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Forks

View full rent data for Grand Forks, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Median rent in Grand Forks is $1,172 a month. A typical registered nurse in North Dakota earns about $91,646 a year, which makes that rent 15.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Grand Forks?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in North Dakota (~$91,646/yr) supports up to $2,291 a month in rent. Grand Forks's current median rent is $1,172/mo, which leaves a $1,119/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a registered nurse in North Dakota works roughly 26.6 hours a month to cover Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Forks for a registered nurse?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,143/mo), Jamestown ($1,143/mo), Minot ($1,143/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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