Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Adel, IA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.8% of gross income.
Adel rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Adel, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Adel
View full rent data for Adel, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Adel, IA?
Median rent in Adel is $1,031 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 36.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Adel?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Adel's current median rent is $1,031/mo, which is $191/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Adel?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 63.8 hours a month to cover Adel's median rent of $1,031.
Where is rent cheaper than Adel for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marion ($1,029/mo), Boone ($1,027/mo), Pella ($1,026/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.