Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

Bettendorf rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Bettendorf median rent
$1,386/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Iowa)
$34,104/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,842, and the 30% rule supports up to $853/mo in rent. Bettendorf's median rent of $1,386 exceeds that threshold by $533/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Bettendorf, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Grimes, IA
$1,384/mo (48.7% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,382/mo (48.6% of income)
Indianola, IA
$1,382/mo (48.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bettendorf

View full rent data for Bettendorf, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Median rent in Bettendorf is $1,386 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Iowa earns about $34,104 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Bettendorf?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Iowa (~$34,104/yr) supports up to $853 a month in rent. Bettendorf's current median rent is $1,386/mo, which is $533/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Bettendorf?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Iowa works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover Bettendorf's median rent of $1,386.

Where is rent cheaper than Bettendorf for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Grimes ($1,384/mo), Grimes ($1,382/mo), Indianola ($1,382/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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