Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.3% of gross income.

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

Bettendorf median rent
$1,327/mo
Bartender salary (Iowa)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
49.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Bettendorf's median rent of $1,327 exceeds that threshold by $519/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 85.4 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 Bettendorf, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,326/mo (49.2% of income)
West Des Moines, IA
$1,324/mo (49.2% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,323/mo (49.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bettendorf

View full rent data for Bettendorf, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Median rent in Bettendorf is $1,327 a month. A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 49.3% 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 Bettendorf?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Iowa (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Bettendorf's current median rent is $1,327/mo, which is $519/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Iowa works roughly 85.4 hours a month to cover Bettendorf's median rent of $1,327.

Where is rent cheaper than Bettendorf for a bartender?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,326/mo), West Des Moines ($1,324/mo), Iowa City ($1,323/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 Bettendorf, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.