Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Sioux City, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.1% of gross income.

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

Sioux City median rent
$1,216/mo
Bartender salary (Iowa)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
45.1%
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 $1,216 exceeds that threshold by $408/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 78.3 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:

Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,215/mo (45.1% of income)
Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,213/mo (45% of income)
Council Bluffs, IA
$1,212/mo (45% 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 $1,216 a month. A typical bartender in Iowa earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 45.1% 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 $1,216/mo, which is $408/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 78.3 hours a month to cover Sioux City's median rent of $1,216.

Where is rent cheaper than Sioux City for a bartender?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Pleasant Hill ($1,215/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,213/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,212/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.