Can A Financial Analyst Afford Rent in Waterloo, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.3% of gross income.

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

Waterloo median rent
$898/mo
Financial Analyst salary (Iowa)
$95,073/yr
Rent as % of income
11.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,923, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,377/mo in rent. Waterloo's median rent of $898 leaves roughly $1,479/mo of headroom under that threshold. A financial analyst works roughly 19.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a financial analyst salary

Financial analyst pay covers comfortable rent in most US cities. At the national-average financial-analyst salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,584 a month in rent, which is above the median in nearly every metro tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a financial analyst salary:

Cedar Rapids, IA
$897/mo (11.3% of income)
Marshalltown, IA
$893/mo (11.3% of income)
Newton, IA
$887/mo (11.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waterloo

View full rent data for Waterloo, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a financial analyst afford rent in Waterloo, IA?

Median rent in Waterloo is $898 a month. A typical financial analyst in Iowa earns about $95,073 a year, which makes that rent 11.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a financial analyst afford in Waterloo?

Using the 30% rule, a financial analyst salary in Iowa (~$95,073/yr) supports up to $2,377 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $898/mo, which leaves a $1,479/mo buffer.

How many hours does a financial analyst work to cover rent in Waterloo?

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a financial analyst in Iowa works roughly 19.6 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $898.

Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a financial analyst?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($897/mo), Marshalltown ($893/mo), Newton ($887/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a financial analyst salary.

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