Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Montclair, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

Montclair rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Montclair median rent
$2,997/mo
Registered Nurse salary (New Jersey)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,818, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,645/mo in rent. Montclair's median rent of $2,997 exceeds that threshold by $352/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 58.9 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Montclair, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Bridgewater Township, NJ
$2,994/mo (34% of income)
Fort Lee, NJ
$2,991/mo (33.9% of income)
Belmar, NJ
$2,988/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montclair

View full rent data for Montclair, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Montclair, NJ?

Median rent in Montclair is $2,997 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Jersey earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 34% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Montclair?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Jersey (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Montclair's current median rent is $2,997/mo, which is $352/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in New Jersey works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover Montclair's median rent of $2,997.

Where is rent cheaper than Montclair for a registered nurse?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Bridgewater Township ($2,994/mo), Fort Lee ($2,991/mo), Belmar ($2,988/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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