Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Alexandria, VA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.9% of gross income.
Alexandria rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Alexandria, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Alexandria
View full rent data for Alexandria, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Alexandria, VA?
Median rent in Alexandria is $2,318 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 28.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Alexandria?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Alexandria's current median rent is $2,318/mo, which leaves a $91/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Alexandria?
At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 50 hours a month to cover Alexandria's median rent of $2,318.
Where is rent cheaper than Alexandria for a registered nurse?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Leesburg ($2,317/mo), Herndon ($2,315/mo), Herndon ($2,313/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.