Rent Affordability for A Registered Nurse in Iowa
A typical registered nurse in Iowa earns about $86,922 a year, which supports approximately $2,173 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Iowa city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 34 of 35 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 1 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton, IA | $775/mo | 10.7% | very comfortable |
| Fort Dodge, IA | $804/mo | 11.1% | very comfortable |
| Boone, IA | $814/mo | 11.2% | very comfortable |
| Waterloo, IA | $909/mo | 12.5% | very comfortable |
| Knoxville, IA | $906/mo | 12.5% | very comfortable |
| Newton, IA | $947/mo | 13.1% | very comfortable |
| Davenport, IA | $965/mo | 13.3% | very comfortable |
| Burlington, IA | $983/mo | 13.6% | very comfortable |
| Marshalltown, IA | $1,024/mo | 14.1% | very comfortable |
| Urbandale, IA | $1,038/mo | 14.3% | very comfortable |
| Indianola, IA | $1,034/mo | 14.3% | very comfortable |
| Pella, IA | $1,052/mo | 14.5% | very comfortable |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,073/mo | 14.8% | very comfortable |
| Adel, IA | $1,094/mo | 15.1% | very comfortable |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,129/mo | 15.6% | very comfortable |
| Norwalk, IA | $1,208/mo | 16.7% | very comfortable |
| Ames, IA | $1,240/mo | 17.1% | very comfortable |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,267/mo | 17.5% | very comfortable |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,274/mo | 17.6% | very comfortable |
| Coralville, IA | $1,282/mo | 17.7% | very comfortable |
| Marion, IA | $1,287/mo | 17.8% | very comfortable |
| Council Bluffs, IA | $1,335/mo | 18.4% | very comfortable |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | $1,339/mo | 18.5% | very comfortable |
| West Des Moines, IA | $1,353/mo | 18.7% | very comfortable |
| Johnston, IA | $1,356/mo | 18.7% | very comfortable |
| Grimes, IA | $1,396/mo | 19.3% | very comfortable |
| Cedar Falls, IA | $1,405/mo | 19.4% | very comfortable |
| Ankeny, IA | $1,464/mo | 20.2% | affordable |
| Bettendorf, IA | $1,466/mo | 20.2% | affordable |
| Altoona, IA | $1,583/mo | 21.9% | affordable |
| Waukee, IA | $1,640/mo | 22.6% | affordable |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,713/mo | 23.6% | affordable |
| Tiffin, IA | $1,771/mo | 24.4% | affordable |
| North Liberty, IA | $1,808/mo | 25% | affordable |
| Le Claire, IA | $2,967/mo | 41% | rent-burdened |