Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in West Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.9% of gross income.
West Des Moines rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
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 West Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for West Des Moines
View full rent data for West Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in West Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in West Des Moines is $1,369 a month. A typical registered nurse in Iowa earns about $86,922 a year, which makes that rent 18.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in West Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Iowa (~$86,922/yr) supports up to $2,173 a month in rent. West Des Moines's current median rent is $1,369/mo, which leaves a $804/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in West Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Iowa works roughly 32.8 hours a month to cover West Des Moines's median rent of $1,369.
Where is rent cheaper than West Des Moines for a registered nurse?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include North Liberty ($1,367/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,365/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,355/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.