How much rent can you afford in Iowa City, IA?
Run your salary against Iowa City's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Iowa City
At a median rent of $1,713/mo, Iowa City is moderately stretched when measured against Iowa City median household income of $58,546/yr. Rent would consume roughly 35% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $68,520 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Iowa City compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Iowa City?
On a $58,546 salary (the Iowa City median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,464/mo. Iowa City's median rent is $1,713/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Iowa City?
To keep Iowa City's $1,713/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $68,520/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Iowa City affordable on the median Iowa income?
Iowa City is moderately stretched on a $58,546 income. Rent would take 35% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".