Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in South Charleston, WV?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.3% of gross income.
South Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia 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 West Virginia cities have lower median rent than South Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for South Charleston
View full rent data for South Charleston, WV →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in South Charleston, WV?
Median rent in South Charleston is $1,088 a month. A typical registered nurse in West Virginia earns about $80,308 a year, which makes that rent 16.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in South Charleston?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in West Virginia (~$80,308/yr) supports up to $2,008 a month in rent. South Charleston's current median rent is $1,088/mo, which leaves a $920/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in South Charleston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a registered nurse in West Virginia works roughly 28.2 hours a month to cover South Charleston's median rent of $1,088.
Where is rent cheaper than South Charleston for a registered nurse?
Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Huntington ($1,074/mo), Fairmont ($1,072/mo), Huntington ($1,067/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.