Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Indianola, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.6% of gross income.

Indianola rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Indianola median rent
$1,282/mo
Bartender salary (Iowa)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
47.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Indianola's median rent of $1,282 exceeds that threshold by $474/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 82.5 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 Indianola, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Bettendorf, IA
$1,280/mo (47.5% of income)
Bettendorf, IA
$1,279/mo (47.5% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,278/mo (47.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianola

View full rent data for Indianola, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Indianola, IA?

Median rent in Indianola is $1,282 a month. A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 47.6% 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 Indianola?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Iowa (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Indianola's current median rent is $1,282/mo, which is $474/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Iowa works roughly 82.5 hours a month to cover Indianola's median rent of $1,282.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianola for a bartender?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,280/mo), Bettendorf ($1,279/mo), Coralville ($1,278/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 Indianola, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.