Can An Accountant Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.1% of gross income.
Des Moines rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and an accountant salary
Accountant pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. The cost-of-living premium that high-cost metros add to rent is offset, in most cases, by higher local accountant pay — but not entirely. At the national-average accountant salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,270 a month in rent, which is above the median rent in most metros tracked here. The per-city pages quantify the surplus or pinch in each market.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on an accountant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can an accountant afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,121 a month. A typical accountant in Iowa earns about $83,518 a year, which makes that rent 16.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an accountant afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, an accountant salary in Iowa (~$83,518/yr) supports up to $2,088 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $967/mo buffer.
How many hours does an accountant work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, an accountant in Iowa works roughly 27.9 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for an accountant?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,119/mo), Sioux City ($1,117/mo), Marion ($1,116/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an accountant salary.