Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Davenport, IA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.9% of gross income.
Davenport rent: June 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 Davenport, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Davenport
View full rent data for Davenport, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Davenport, IA?
Median rent in Davenport is $949 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 33.9% 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 Davenport?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Davenport's current median rent is $949/mo, which is $109/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Davenport?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 58.7 hours a month to cover Davenport's median rent of $949.
Where is rent cheaper than Davenport for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Boone ($947/mo), Urbandale ($944/mo), Marshalltown ($941/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.