Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Ames, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.9% of gross income.
Ames rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a real estate agent salary
Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ames, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ames
View full rent data for Ames, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Ames, IA?
Median rent in Ames is $1,153 a month. A typical real estate agent in Iowa earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 22.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Ames?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Iowa (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Ames's current median rent is $1,153/mo, which leaves a $355/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Ames?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Iowa works roughly 39.7 hours a month to cover Ames's median rent of $1,153.
Where is rent cheaper than Ames for a real estate agent?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Sioux City ($1,152/mo), Des Moines ($1,148/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,146/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.