Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Portland, OR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.
Portland rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Portland, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portland
View full rent data for Portland, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Portland, OR?
Median rent in Portland is $1,723 a month. A typical registered nurse in Oregon earns about $98,259 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Portland?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Oregon (~$98,259/yr) supports up to $2,456 a month in rent. Portland's current median rent is $1,723/mo, which leaves a $733/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Portland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in Oregon works roughly 36.5 hours a month to cover Portland's median rent of $1,723.
Where is rent cheaper than Portland for a registered nurse?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Forest Grove ($1,722/mo), West Slope ($1,722/mo), Woodburn ($1,721/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.