Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Ankeny, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.3% of gross income.
Ankeny rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ankeny, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ankeny
View full rent data for Ankeny, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Ankeny, IA?
Median rent in Ankeny is $1,533 a month. A typical lawyer in Iowa earns about $162,352 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 lawyer afford in Ankeny?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Iowa (~$162,352/yr) supports up to $4,059 a month in rent. Ankeny's current median rent is $1,533/mo, which leaves a $2,526/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Ankeny?
At an hourly equivalent of about $78 an hour, a lawyer in Iowa works roughly 19.6 hours a month to cover Ankeny's median rent of $1,533.
Where is rent cheaper than Ankeny for a lawyer?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Altoona ($1,530/mo), Altoona ($1,523/mo), Waukee ($1,521/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.