Can An Accountant Afford Rent in Des Moines, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.8% of gross income.

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

Des Moines median rent
$2,013/mo
Accountant salary (Washington)
$101,674/yr
Rent as % of income
23.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,473, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,542/mo in rent. Des Moines's median rent of $2,013 leaves roughly $529/mo of headroom under that threshold. An accountant works roughly 41.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on an accountant salary:

Olympia, WA
$2,012/mo (23.7% of income)
Burlington, WA
$2,011/mo (23.7% of income)
Ridgefield, WA
$2,011/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Des Moines

View full rent data for Des Moines, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can an accountant afford rent in Des Moines, WA?

Median rent in Des Moines is $2,013 a month. A typical accountant in Washington earns about $101,674 a year, which makes that rent 23.8% 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 Washington (~$101,674/yr) supports up to $2,542 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $2,013/mo, which leaves a $529/mo buffer.

How many hours does an accountant work to cover rent in Des Moines?

At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, an accountant in Washington works roughly 41.2 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $2,013.

Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for an accountant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Olympia ($2,012/mo), Burlington ($2,011/mo), Ridgefield ($2,011/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an accountant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Washington state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Des Moines, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.