Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

Cedar Rapids rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Cedar Rapids median rent
$1,307/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Iowa)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Cedar Rapids's median rent of $1,307 leaves roughly $91/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Cedar Rapids, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,304/mo (28% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,300/mo (27.9% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,298/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cedar Rapids

View full rent data for Cedar Rapids, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Median rent in Cedar Rapids is $1,307 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Iowa earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Cedar Rapids?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Iowa (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Cedar Rapids's current median rent is $1,307/mo, which leaves a $91/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Cedar Rapids?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Iowa works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover Cedar Rapids's median rent of $1,307.

Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Rapids for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,304/mo), Iowa City ($1,300/mo), Urbandale ($1,298/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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