Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.3% of gross income.

Great Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Great Falls median rent
$5,167/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Virginia)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
64.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $5,167 exceeds that threshold by $2,758/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 111.5 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Fort Hunt, VA
$4,549/mo (56.6% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,375/mo (54.5% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,100/mo (51.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Great Falls, VA?

Median rent in Great Falls is $5,167 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 64.3% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,167/mo, which is $2,758/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 111.5 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,167.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a registered nurse?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,100/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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