Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Madison, WI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.6% of gross income.
Madison rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Madison, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Madison
View full rent data for Madison, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Madison, WI?
Median rent in Madison is $1,837 a month. A typical registered nurse in Wisconsin earns about $89,756 a year, which makes that rent 24.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Madison?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Wisconsin (~$89,756/yr) supports up to $2,244 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $1,837/mo, which leaves a $407/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Madison?
At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a registered nurse in Wisconsin works roughly 42.6 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $1,837.
Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a registered nurse?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oconomowoc ($1,834/mo), Oconomowoc ($1,831/mo), Monona ($1,825/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.