Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.4% of gross income.
Des Moines rent: July 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 Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,131 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 40.4% 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 Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,131/mo, which is $291/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 70 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,131.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Sioux City ($1,127/mo), Ames ($1,125/mo), Sioux City ($1,123/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.