Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in New York, NY?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 46% of gross income.
New York rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York 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 York cities have lower median rent than New York, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for New York
View full rent data for New York, NY →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in New York, NY?
Median rent in New York is $4,133 a month. A typical registered nurse in New York earns about $107,707 a year, which makes that rent 46% 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 New York?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New York (~$107,707/yr) supports up to $2,693 a month in rent. New York's current median rent is $4,133/mo, which is $1,440/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in New York?
At an hourly equivalent of about $52 an hour, a registered nurse in New York works roughly 79.8 hours a month to cover New York's median rent of $4,133.
Where is rent cheaper than New York for a registered nurse?
Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Port Washington ($4,117/mo), New Hyde Park ($4,111/mo), Port Washington ($4,100/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.