Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Spokane, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17% of gross income.

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

Spokane median rent
$1,498/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Washington)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
17%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,818, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,645/mo in rent. Spokane's median rent of $1,498 leaves roughly $1,147/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 29.4 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 Spokane, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Walla Walla, WA
$1,497/mo (17% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,493/mo (16.9% of income)
Spokane Valley, WA
$1,488/mo (16.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Spokane

View full rent data for Spokane, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Spokane, WA?

Median rent in Spokane is $1,498 a month. A typical registered nurse in Washington earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 17% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Spokane?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Washington (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Spokane's current median rent is $1,498/mo, which leaves a $1,147/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in Washington works roughly 29.4 hours a month to cover Spokane's median rent of $1,498.

Where is rent cheaper than Spokane for a registered nurse?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Walla Walla ($1,497/mo), Pullman ($1,493/mo), Spokane Valley ($1,488/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 Spokane, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.