Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.
Des Moines rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,121 a month. A typical truck driver in Iowa earns about $52,173 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Iowa (~$52,173/yr) supports up to $1,304 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $183/mo buffer.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a truck driver in Iowa works roughly 44.7 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a truck driver?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,119/mo), Sioux City ($1,117/mo), Marion ($1,116/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.