Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

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

Bettendorf median rent
$1,386/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Bettendorf's median rent of $1,386 exceeds that threshold by $163/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Bettendorf, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Grimes, IA
$1,384/mo (33.9% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,382/mo (33.9% of income)
Indianola, IA
$1,382/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bettendorf

View full rent data for Bettendorf, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Median rent in Bettendorf is $1,386 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 34% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Bettendorf?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Iowa (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Bettendorf's current median rent is $1,386/mo, which is $163/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Bettendorf?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Iowa works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover Bettendorf's median rent of $1,386.

Where is rent cheaper than Bettendorf for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Grimes ($1,384/mo), Grimes ($1,382/mo), Indianola ($1,382/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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