Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Fairfax, VA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.
Fairfax 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 Fairfax, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairfax
View full rent data for Fairfax, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Fairfax, VA?
Median rent in Fairfax is $2,458 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Fairfax?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Fairfax's current median rent is $2,458/mo, which is $49/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Fairfax?
At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover Fairfax's median rent of $2,458.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairfax for a registered nurse?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Reston ($2,456/mo), Falls Church ($2,456/mo), Reston ($2,451/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.