Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Indianola, IA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.
Indianola 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 Indianola, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Indianola
View full rent data for Indianola, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Indianola, IA?
Median rent in Indianola is $1,282 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% 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 Indianola?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Indianola's current median rent is $1,282/mo, which is $442/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Indianola?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 79.3 hours a month to cover Indianola's median rent of $1,282.
Where is rent cheaper than Indianola for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,280/mo), Bettendorf ($1,279/mo), Coralville ($1,278/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.