Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Centralia, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.7% of gross income.

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

Centralia median rent
$1,300/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Washington)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
14.7%
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 $1,300 leaves roughly $1,345/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 25.6 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:

Longview, WA
$1,296/mo (14.7% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,291/mo (14.6% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,287/mo (14.6% 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 $1,300 a month. A typical registered nurse in Washington earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 14.7% 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 $1,300/mo, which leaves a $1,345/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 25.6 hours a month to cover Centralia's median rent of $1,300.

Where is rent cheaper than Centralia for a registered nurse?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Longview ($1,296/mo), Pullman ($1,291/mo), Pullman ($1,287/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.