Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Elizabeth, NJ?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.
Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Elizabeth
View full rent data for Elizabeth, NJ →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Elizabeth, NJ?
Median rent in Elizabeth is $2,255 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Jersey earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Elizabeth?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Jersey (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,255/mo, which leaves a $390/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Elizabeth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in New Jersey works roughly 44.3 hours a month to cover Elizabeth's median rent of $2,255.
Where is rent cheaper than Elizabeth for a registered nurse?
Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Sicklerville ($2,254/mo), Mt Laurel Township ($2,254/mo), Highland Park ($2,253/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.