Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.9% of gross income.
Urbandale 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 Urbandale, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Urbandale
View full rent data for Urbandale, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Urbandale, IA?
Median rent in Urbandale is $1,203 a month. A typical real estate agent in Iowa earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 23.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Urbandale?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Iowa (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,203/mo, which leaves a $305/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Urbandale?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Iowa works roughly 41.5 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,203.
Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a real estate agent?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Coralville ($1,199/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,196/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,195/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.