Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Sioux City, IA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.4% of gross income.
Sioux City 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 Sioux City, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Sioux City
View full rent data for Sioux City, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Sioux City, IA?
Median rent in Sioux City is $1,216 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 43.4% 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 Sioux City?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Sioux City's current median rent is $1,216/mo, which is $376/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Sioux City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 75.3 hours a month to cover Sioux City's median rent of $1,216.
Where is rent cheaper than Sioux City for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Pleasant Hill ($1,215/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,213/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,212/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.