Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Dayton, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.3% of gross income.

Dayton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$1,207/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Ohio)
$88,811/yr
Rent as % of income
16.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,401, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,220/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $1,207 leaves roughly $1,013/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 28.3 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Mayfield Heights, OH
$1,206/mo (16.3% of income)
Euclid, OH
$1,205/mo (16.3% of income)
Lancaster, OH
$1,205/mo (16.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Dayton, OH?

Median rent in Dayton is $1,207 a month. A typical registered nurse in Ohio earns about $88,811 a year, which makes that rent 16.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Ohio (~$88,811/yr) supports up to $2,220 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,207/mo, which leaves a $1,013/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a registered nurse in Ohio works roughly 28.3 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a registered nurse?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Mayfield Heights ($1,206/mo), Euclid ($1,205/mo), Lancaster ($1,205/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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