Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.8% of gross income.

Hilton Head Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Hilton Head Island median rent
$3,106/mo
Registered Nurse salary (South Carolina)
$83,142/yr
Rent as % of income
44.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,929, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,079/mo in rent. Hilton Head Island's median rent of $3,106 exceeds that threshold by $1,027/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 77.7 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Hilton Head Island, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Mount Pleasant, SC
$2,425/mo (35% of income)
Pawleys Island, SC
$2,400/mo (34.6% of income)
Mount Pleasant, SC
$2,386/mo (34.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hilton Head Island

View full rent data for Hilton Head Island, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Median rent in Hilton Head Island is $3,106 a month. A typical registered nurse in South Carolina earns about $83,142 a year, which makes that rent 44.8% 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 Hilton Head Island?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in South Carolina (~$83,142/yr) supports up to $2,079 a month in rent. Hilton Head Island's current median rent is $3,106/mo, which is $1,027/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Hilton Head Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a registered nurse in South Carolina works roughly 77.7 hours a month to cover Hilton Head Island's median rent of $3,106.

Where is rent cheaper than Hilton Head Island for a registered nurse?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Mount Pleasant ($2,425/mo), Pawleys Island ($2,400/mo), Mount Pleasant ($2,386/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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