Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.1% of gross income.

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

Walla Walla median rent
$1,506/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Washington)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
17.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,818, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,645/mo in rent. Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506 leaves roughly $1,139/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 29.6 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 Walla Walla, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,504/mo (17.1% of income)
Kent, WA
$1,504/mo (17.1% of income)
Auburn, WA
$1,503/mo (17% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Walla Walla

View full rent data for Walla Walla, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Median rent in Walla Walla is $1,506 a month. A typical registered nurse in Washington earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 17.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Walla Walla?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Washington (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Walla Walla's current median rent is $1,506/mo, which leaves a $1,139/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in Washington works roughly 29.6 hours a month to cover Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506.

Where is rent cheaper than Walla Walla for a registered nurse?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,504/mo), Kent ($1,504/mo), Auburn ($1,503/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 Walla Walla, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.