Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Ankeny, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.4% of gross income.

Ankeny rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Ankeny median rent
$1,520/mo
Bartender salary (Iowa)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
56.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Ankeny's median rent of $1,520 exceeds that threshold by $712/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 97.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ankeny, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Altoona, IA
$1,519/mo (56.4% of income)
Altoona, IA
$1,518/mo (56.4% of income)
Waukee, IA
$1,509/mo (56% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ankeny

View full rent data for Ankeny, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Ankeny, IA?

Median rent in Ankeny is $1,520 a month. A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 56.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Ankeny?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Iowa (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Ankeny's current median rent is $1,520/mo, which is $712/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Ankeny?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Iowa works roughly 97.8 hours a month to cover Ankeny's median rent of $1,520.

Where is rent cheaper than Ankeny for a bartender?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Altoona ($1,519/mo), Altoona ($1,518/mo), Waukee ($1,509/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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