Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Dubuque, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.5% of gross income.

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

Dubuque median rent
$1,110/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Iowa)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
14.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Dubuque's median rent of $1,110 leaves roughly $1,183/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 25.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Dubuque, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Cedar Falls, IA
$1,108/mo (14.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$1,107/mo (14.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$1,106/mo (14.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dubuque

View full rent data for Dubuque, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Dubuque, IA?

Median rent in Dubuque is $1,110 a month. A typical physical therapist in Iowa earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 14.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Dubuque?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Iowa (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Dubuque's current median rent is $1,110/mo, which leaves a $1,183/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Dubuque?

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Iowa works roughly 25.2 hours a month to cover Dubuque's median rent of $1,110.

Where is rent cheaper than Dubuque for a physical therapist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Falls ($1,108/mo), Des Moines ($1,107/mo), Des Moines ($1,106/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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