Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Sioux City, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.6% of gross income.

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

Sioux City median rent
$1,254/mo
Bartender salary (Iowa)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
46.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Sioux City's median rent of $1,254 exceeds that threshold by $446/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 80.7 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 Sioux City, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Coralville, IA
$1,251/mo (46.4% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,251/mo (46.4% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,251/mo (46.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sioux City

View full rent data for Sioux City, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Sioux City, IA?

Median rent in Sioux City is $1,254 a month. A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 46.6% 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 Sioux City?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Iowa (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Sioux City's current median rent is $1,254/mo, which is $446/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Iowa works roughly 80.7 hours a month to cover Sioux City's median rent of $1,254.

Where is rent cheaper than Sioux City for a bartender?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Coralville ($1,251/mo), Iowa City ($1,251/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,251/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 Sioux City, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.