Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Dubuque, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.5% of gross income.

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

Dubuque median rent
$1,110/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Iowa)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
16.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Dubuque's median rent of $1,110 leaves roughly $903/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 28.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Dubuque, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Cedar Falls, IA
$1,108/mo (16.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$1,107/mo (16.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$1,106/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dubuque

View full rent data for Dubuque, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Dubuque, IA?

Median rent in Dubuque is $1,110 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Iowa earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 16.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Dubuque?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Iowa (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Dubuque's current median rent is $1,110/mo, which leaves a $903/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Dubuque?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Iowa works roughly 28.7 hours a month to cover Dubuque's median rent of $1,110.

Where is rent cheaper than Dubuque for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Falls ($1,108/mo), Des Moines ($1,107/mo), Des Moines ($1,106/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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