Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in North Liberty, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.

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

North Liberty median rent
$1,655/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Iowa)
$86,922/yr
Rent as % of income
22.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,244, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,173/mo in rent. North Liberty's median rent of $1,655 leaves roughly $518/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 39.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than North Liberty, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Altoona, IA
$1,639/mo (22.6% of income)
Waukee, IA
$1,636/mo (22.6% of income)
Altoona, IA
$1,622/mo (22.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Liberty

View full rent data for North Liberty, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in North Liberty, IA?

Median rent in North Liberty is $1,655 a month. A typical registered nurse in Iowa earns about $86,922 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in North Liberty?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Iowa (~$86,922/yr) supports up to $2,173 a month in rent. North Liberty's current median rent is $1,655/mo, which leaves a $518/mo buffer.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in North Liberty?

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Iowa works roughly 39.6 hours a month to cover North Liberty's median rent of $1,655.

Where is rent cheaper than North Liberty for a registered nurse?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Altoona ($1,639/mo), Waukee ($1,636/mo), Altoona ($1,622/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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