Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Centralia, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.3% of gross income.

Centralia rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Centralia median rent
$1,433/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Washington)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
16.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,818, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,645/mo in rent. Centralia's median rent of $1,433 leaves roughly $1,212/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 28.2 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Centralia, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Ellensburg, WA
$1,432/mo (16.2% of income)
Ellensburg, WA
$1,431/mo (16.2% of income)
Spokane, WA
$1,430/mo (16.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Centralia

View full rent data for Centralia, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Centralia, WA?

Median rent in Centralia is $1,433 a month. A typical registered nurse in Washington earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 16.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Centralia?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Washington (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Centralia's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which leaves a $1,212/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in Washington works roughly 28.2 hours a month to cover Centralia's median rent of $1,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Centralia for a registered nurse?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ellensburg ($1,432/mo), Ellensburg ($1,431/mo), Spokane ($1,430/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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