Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.1% of gross income.

Aberdeen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Aberdeen median rent
$1,049/mo
Registered Nurse salary (South Dakota)
$83,142/yr
Rent as % of income
15.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,929, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,079/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049 leaves roughly $1,030/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 26.2 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (15.1% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (14.9% of income)
Mitchell, SD
$1,021/mo (14.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,049 a month. A typical registered nurse in South Dakota earns about $83,142 a year, which makes that rent 15.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in South Dakota (~$83,142/yr) supports up to $2,079 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,049/mo, which leaves a $1,030/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a registered nurse in South Dakota works roughly 26.2 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a registered nurse?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo), Mitchell ($1,021/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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