Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Council Bluffs, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.2% of gross income.

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

Council Bluffs median rent
$1,348/mo
Pharmacist salary (Iowa)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
13.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Council Bluffs's median rent of $1,348 leaves roughly $1,705/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 23 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Council Bluffs, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Cedar Falls, IA
$1,347/mo (13.2% of income)
West Des Moines, IA
$1,346/mo (13.2% of income)
Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,346/mo (13.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Council Bluffs

View full rent data for Council Bluffs, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Council Bluffs, IA?

Median rent in Council Bluffs is $1,348 a month. A typical pharmacist in Iowa earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 13.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Council Bluffs?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Iowa (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Council Bluffs's current median rent is $1,348/mo, which leaves a $1,705/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Council Bluffs?

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Iowa works roughly 23 hours a month to cover Council Bluffs's median rent of $1,348.

Where is rent cheaper than Council Bluffs for a pharmacist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Falls ($1,347/mo), West Des Moines ($1,346/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,346/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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