Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Bristol, RI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.9% of gross income.
Bristol rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bristol
View full rent data for Bristol, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Bristol, RI?
Median rent in Bristol is $2,939 a month. A typical registered nurse in Rhode Island earns about $98,259 a year, which makes that rent 35.9% 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 Bristol?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Rhode Island (~$98,259/yr) supports up to $2,456 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $2,939/mo, which is $483/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Bristol?
At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in Rhode Island works roughly 62.2 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $2,939.
Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a registered nurse?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Narragansett ($2,934/mo), Newport ($2,931/mo), Narragansett ($2,929/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.