Rent Affordability for A Bartender in Iowa

A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which supports approximately $808 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Iowa city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.

As of May 2026. 1 of 35 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 34 are rent-burdened on this salary.

CityMedian rent% of incomeAffordability
Clinton, IA$792/mo29.4%affordable
Fort Dodge, IA$843/mo31.3%stretched
Waterloo, IA$898/mo33.3%stretched
Marshalltown, IA$930/mo34.5%stretched
Knoxville, IA$941/mo34.9%stretched
Davenport, IA$949/mo35.2%stretched
Boone, IA$947/mo35.2%stretched
Newton, IA$962/mo35.7%stretched
Burlington, IA$983/mo36.5%stretched
Adel, IA$1,031/mo38.3%stretched
Pella, IA$1,085/mo40.3%rent-burdened
Dubuque, IA$1,110/mo41.2%rent-burdened
Des Moines, IA$1,121/mo41.6%rent-burdened
Ames, IA$1,125/mo41.8%rent-burdened
Norwalk, IA$1,189/mo44.1%rent-burdened
Urbandale, IA$1,197/mo44.4%rent-burdened
Sioux City, IA$1,216/mo45.1%rent-burdened
Cedar Falls, IA$1,264/mo46.9%rent-burdened
Coralville, IA$1,263/mo46.9%rent-burdened
Marion, IA$1,278/mo47.5%rent-burdened
Cedar Rapids, IA$1,288/mo47.8%rent-burdened
Iowa City, IA$1,308/mo48.6%rent-burdened
Bettendorf, IA$1,327/mo49.3%rent-burdened
Council Bluffs, IA$1,348/mo50%severely rent-burdened
Pleasant Hill, IA$1,346/mo50%rent-burdened
West Des Moines, IA$1,369/mo50.8%severely rent-burdened
Johnston, IA$1,382/mo51.3%severely rent-burdened
Indianola, IA$1,382/mo51.3%severely rent-burdened
Altoona, IA$1,436/mo53.3%severely rent-burdened
Grimes, IA$1,435/mo53.3%severely rent-burdened
Ankeny, IA$1,520/mo56.4%severely rent-burdened
North Liberty, IA$1,655/mo61.4%severely rent-burdened
Waukee, IA$1,665/mo61.8%severely rent-burdened
Tiffin, IA$1,864/mo69.2%severely rent-burdened
Le Claire, IA$2,900/mo107.7%severely rent-burdened
Methodology: Salary is the BLS-derived state estimate for Iowa. Rent is the latest ZORI monthly value for each city. Affordability uses the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income).