Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Staunton, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.7% of gross income.

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

Staunton median rent
$1,581/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Virginia)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
19.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Staunton's median rent of $1,581 leaves roughly $828/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 34.1 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 Staunton, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

East Highland Park, VA
$1,580/mo (19.7% of income)
Farmville, VA
$1,580/mo (19.7% of income)
Newport News, VA
$1,579/mo (19.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Staunton

View full rent data for Staunton, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Staunton, VA?

Median rent in Staunton is $1,581 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 19.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Staunton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Staunton's current median rent is $1,581/mo, which leaves a $828/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 34.1 hours a month to cover Staunton's median rent of $1,581.

Where is rent cheaper than Staunton for a registered nurse?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include East Highland Park ($1,580/mo), Farmville ($1,580/mo), Newport News ($1,579/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 Staunton, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.