Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Olympia, WA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.
Olympia rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Olympia, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Olympia
View full rent data for Olympia, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Olympia, WA?
Median rent in Olympia is $2,013 a month. A typical registered nurse in Washington earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Olympia?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Washington (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Olympia's current median rent is $2,013/mo, which leaves a $632/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Olympia?
At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in Washington works roughly 39.6 hours a month to cover Olympia's median rent of $2,013.
Where is rent cheaper than Olympia for a registered nurse?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ridgefield ($2,011/mo), Burlington ($2,011/mo), Clover Creek ($2,011/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.